TE 


Gare _ UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS 
- Acricultural Experiment Station 


_—_. 


SOIL REPORT NO. 12 


WINNEBAGO COUNTY SOILS 


— 


By OYRIL G. HOPKINS, J. G, MOSIER, 
__ | EB, VAN ALSTINE, anv F. W. GARRETT 


URBANA, ILLINOIS, JANUARY, 1916 


UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS 
GEOLOGY LIBRARY. 


STATE Moke Bokrernciek ON Soir. INVESTIGATIONS 


Ralph Allen, Delavan A. N. Abbott, Morrison — 
F. I. Mann, Gilman J. P. Mason, ‘Elgin 
©. V. Grecory, 538 8. Clark Street, Chicago 


AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION STAFF ON SOIL INVESTIGATIONS 


Eugene Dayenport, Director 
Cyril G@. Hopkins, Chief of Agronomy ane Sion 


Sod Survey— Soil Experiment Frelds— | 
J. G. Mosier, Chief J. EH. Whitchurch, Associate 
A. F. Gustafson, Assistant Chief E. E. Hoskins, Associate 


S$. V. Holt, Associate | F. C. Bauer, Associate 3 
H, C. Wheeler, Associate ee - BF. W. Garrett, Assistant. 
FE. A. Fisher, First Assistant H.-C. Gilkerson, Assistant 
F.. M. W. Wascher, First Assistant H. F. T. Fahrnkopf, Assistant 
R. W. Dickerson, First Assistant H. J. Snider, Assistant : 
G. E. Gentle, Assistant . F. A. Wyatt, Assistant 
O. I. Ellis, Assistant | ( 
H. A. deWerff, Assistant | 3 
E. F. Torgerson, Assistant 
F. C. Richey, Assistant tae 

Soil Analysis— Soil Biology— . 
Robert Stewart, Associate Chief 
E. Van Alstine, Assistant Chief 
J. P. Aumer, Associate 
W. H. Sachs, Associate Souls Hatension— 
W. R. Leighty, First Assistant C. C. Logan, ‘Anscente, p 
C. B. Clevenger, Assistant : 


W. R. Schoonover, Assistant 


INTRODUCTORY NOTE 


About two-thirds of Illinois lies in the corn belt, where most of the prairie 
lands are black or dark brown in color. In the southern third of the state, the 


A. L. Whiting, Associate _ 


prairie soils are largely of a gray color. This region is better known as the ~ "eae 


wheat belt, altho wheat is often grown in the corn belt and corn is also a com- 


mon crop in the wheat belt. 


Moultrie county, representing the corn belt; Clay eonnEe hich: is fairly 


representative of the.wheat belt; and Hardin county, which is taken to repre- 
sent the unglaciated area of the extreme southern part of the state, were se- 


lected for the first Illinois Soil Reports by counties. While these three county — ‘ 


soil reports were sent to the Station’s entire mailing list within the state, sub- 


sequent reports are sent only to those on the mailing list whe are residents of the. me 


county concerned, and to anyone else upon request. 


Hach county report is intended to be as nearly Complete in itself as it ‘ 
is practicable to make it, and, even at the expense of some repetition, each 
will contain a general discussion of important fundamental principles, in order — 


to help the farmer and landowner understand the meaning of the soil fer- és 2 : 


tility invoice for the lands in which he is interested.. In. Soil Report No. 1, 


‘“Clay County Soils,’’ this discussion serves in part as an introduction, while ps ae 
in this and other reports it will be found in the Appendix; but if necessary it =» | 


‘should be read and studied in advance of the report proper. 


> 


WINNEBAGO COUNTY SOILS 


By CYRIL G. HOPKINS, J. G. MOSIER, E. VAN ALSTINE, anp F. W. GARRETT 


Winnebago county is located on the northern boundary of Illinois, in the 
fowan and pre-lowan! glaciations, and is covered with a deposit of drift, loess, 
and alluvial material. 

The topography of this county is quite variable, being extremely rolling 
in the northwestern part and gently rolling in the southwestern area, while the 
eastern and southeastern parts are of intermediate topography. The difference 
in topography is due largely to the irregular deposition of material during 
the Glacial period. However, in many local areas the broken character is due 
to stream erosion. 

During the Glacial period accumulations of snow and ice in parts of Canada 
became so extensive that they pushed southward until a point was reached where 
the ice melted as rapidly as it advanced. In moving across the country from the 
north, the icé gathered up all sorts and sizes of material, including masses of rock, 
boulders, pebbles, and smaller material, which when deposited formed what is 
known as boulder clay, till, or glacial drift. Much of this was carried for hundreds 
of miles and the coarser materials rubbed against the surface rocks or against 
each other until ground into powder. When the limit of advance was reached, 
where the ice largely melted, this material accumulated in a broad, undulating 
ridge, or moraine. When the ice melted away more rapidly than the glacier 
advanced, the terminus of the glacier receded and left the moraine, or glacial 
ridge, to mark the outer limit of the ice sheet. The ice made many advances and 
with each advance and recession a terminal moraine was formed. Thinner and 
somewhat more uniform deposits were made over the intermorainal areas. 
Characteristic glacial ridges are found in many parts of the state, and, locally, 
hills of gravel and sand, known as ‘‘kames,’’ and short ridges of the same 
material, called ‘‘eskers.’? Quite a number of these latter are found in Winne- 
bago county, and are the source of much of the gravel that is being used as road 
material. 

The depth of the deposit of drift varies widely in this county. In many 
places the bed rock is exposed, while in the area east of the Rock river, over 
which the drift is deepest, the depth is sometimes over 300 feet. 

The pre-lowan glaciation covers that part of the county north of the Peca- 
tonica and west of the Sugar river; also the southwestern part of the county 
west of the Rock river and south of a line almost coincident with the diagonal 
wagon road extending from Rockford to Freeport. The drift is rather thin 
over this glaciation, except in the brown silt loam area in the southwestern part 
of the county. The Iowan glaciation covers the rest of the county. 


*The pre-Iowan is regarded by Leverett as probably Illinoisan. 


2 Som Report No. 12 : [ January, 


According to borings made in the old preglacial valley, the bed of the Rock 
river at one time was from 250 to 300 feet below the present stream bed. This 
valley was filled during the Wisconsin glaciations by the immense amount of 
material brought down by the drainage waters from the melting glacier. In 
the northern part of the county this material is much coarser than in the 
southern. The rapid filling of the Rock river valley produced peculiar conditions 
in the Pecatonica river valley. Since the silting up of the Pecatonica valley was 
not so rapid as the filling of the Rock, the former stream was ponded and this 
likely resulted in the formation of a lake in the valley, that extended even 
farther west than Winnebago county. In the waters of this shallow lake, fine 
sediments were. deposited that now constitute the clay and silt terraces and 
which give rise to a number of peculiar soils. After the Rock river cut down 
thru the bed of deposited material, this old Pecatonica lake was drained, and 
now a new bottom land, from six to ten feet lower, has been formed by the 
Pecatonica river within the terrace. 

The general effect of the ice sheet on the topography was to make it more 
nearly level by rubbing down the hills and filling the valley. In making wells 
evidences of former occasional valleys have been found that were over 75 feet 
in depth. These probably were preglacial tributary valleys of the Rock and 
Pecatonica rivers. 


PHYSIOGRAPHY AND DRAINAGE 


Winnebago county lies entirely in the drainage basin of the Rock river, 
which, with its two large tributaries, the Kishwaukee in the southeastern part 
and the Pecatonica in the northwestern, constitute the principal streams. The 
highest part is in the northeast, where an altitude of 990 feet is reached. The 
northwest part has nearly the same altitude. The lowest point, which is about 
685 feet above sea level, is where the Rock river leaves the county. The follow- 
ing are the altitudes of some of the stations in the county: Argle, 878; Cherry 
Valley, 737; Durand, 774; Harlem, 775; Latham Park, 725; New Milford, 720; 
Pecatonica, 754; Rockford, 728; Rockton, 748; Roscoe, 740; Seward, 864; Shir- 
land, 732; Winnebago, 861; Elida, 870; Kishwaukee, 730; Wempleton, 860. 

The Rock river flows thru a broad valley from two to six miles in width, 
that represents the flood plain of the old stream, a kind of gravel outwash plain; 
while the new or later stream has cut a valley 30 to 60 feet deep in the terrace. 
The process of deepening is still going on. The Pecatonica valley varies from. 
one to four miles in width and consists of a silt terrace in which a new bottom 
land has been developed, very irregular in width, thru which the Pecatonica 
meanders. The Sugar river and Coon creek, tributaries of the Pecatonica from 
Wisconsin, flow thru very poorly developed valleys of insufficient depth for 
good drainage. 

The upland contains large numbers of poorly drained areas varying in 
size from two or three sections to only a few acres, which are not now usually 
under cultivation but are utilized for pasture or hay. Aside from these the 
upland is sufficiently rolling for fair surface drainage. 


Digitized by the Internet Archive 
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University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 


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LEGEND : 

(a) UPLAND PRAIRIE SOILS Yellow sandy loam mo Yellow-gray silt loam over gravel 

LB Brown silt loam Yellow sandy loam on rock Brown sandy loam on gravel c 
| | Brown silt loam on rock Gravelly loam <= Yellow-gray sandy loam 4 
[ BS Black clay loam (c) RESIDUAL isa Brown sandy loam over gravel f 
#8 Brown-gray silt loam on tight clay Stony loam Pa] antl 7 c 


(e) LATE SWAMP AND BOTTOM LAND SOILS 


Brown sandy loam 799 Rock outcrop 


Brown sandy loam on rock 

Dune sand 

(b) UPLAND TIMBER SOILS 
Yellow-gray silt loam 

Yellow silt loam 

Yellow silt loam on rock 
Light-gray silt loam on tight clay 
Yellow-gray sandy loam 


Yellow-gray sandy loam on rock 


Small areas of gravelly loam 
Small areas of stony joam 
Small areas of rock outcrop 

(d) TERRACE SOILS 
Black clay loam 
Brown silt loam 
Brown silt loam over gravel 
Brown-gray silt loam on tight clay 


Light gray silt loam 


Deep peat : 
Medium peat on clay 

Medium peat on sand 

Shallow peat on clay 

Peaty loam on sand 

Black mixed loam 

Mixed loam (bottom land) 
Pre-lowan glaciation 


lowan glaciation 


790. Oe ht 2 3 PLM. 


1536 


Ba) Pe 
Tey 


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SOIL SURVEY MAP OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY 
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION 


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1916] WINNEBAGO COUNTY 3 


Som. MATERIAL AND Sort TYPES 


The glaciers carried with them immense quantities of debris that was depos- 
ited irregularly over the surface of the county. This, however, does not consti- 
tute the soil over any large area. The pre-lowan drift was covered by wind- 
blown, or loessial, material to a depth of five to seven feet, the upper part of 
which now constitutes the soil. The theory is advanced that this material, 
derived from Iowan drift, was deposited during the melting of this glacier. The 
commonly accepted belief is that during the melting of the Iowan glacier the 
water deposited large amounts of rock flour over the flood plains of streams 
draining from the glacier, and that this material, when dry, was picked up 
and earried over the land by the wind. There is also some loess over the Iowan 
glaciation, but it is very irregularly distributed. It frequently happens that 
one side of a hill will be covered with fine loessial material while the other will 
be made up largely of sand, and both deposits may have been due to the wind. 

The terrace of the Rock river was formed largely from the deposition of 
gravel and sand, which has since been covered with a layer of finer material 
composed of sand and silt. The depth of this finer material varies from one 
foot to four or five feet. This terrace area is so porous that streams from the 
upland flowing out upon it sink into the porous gravel. Springs are abundant 
in the Rock river. 

The Pecatonica terrace, as previously stated, was made from fine material 
deposited in a shallow lake that, when drained, left an area which was subse- 
quently covered with loess and this loess now constitutes the soil. An area north 
of Shirland in Townships 46 and 29 North, Ranges 11 East of the 4th P. M. 
and 1 East of the 3d P. M., is composed largely of sand transported to its present 
position by the wind. The soils here are very sandy and many dunes occur. 

The soils of Winnebago county are divided into the following five classes: 

(a) Upland prairie soils, rich in organic matter. These were covered orig- 
inally with prairie grasses, the partially decayed roots of which have been the 
source of the organic matter. 

(b) Upland timber soils, including practically all of the upland that was 
formerly covered with forests. 

(ec) Residual soils, including stony loam and rock outcrop. 

(d) Terrace soils, which include bench lands, or second bottom lands, that 
were formed by deposition from overloaded streams during the melting of the 
glaciers, as along the Rock and the Kishwaukee rivers, and in shallow lakes, as 
in the Pecatonica terrace. 

(e) Late swamp and bottom-land soils, which include the overflow lands or 
present flood plains along the streams and other poorly drained lands. 

Table 1 shows the area of each type of soil in Winnebago county in square 
miles and in acres, and its percentage of the total area. The accompanying maps 
show the location and boundary lines of the types, even down to areas of a few 
acres. 


«<Qn’? signifies that the gravel or rock is less than 30 inches below the surface; 


4 Som Report No. 12 
TABLE 1.—So1t TYPES oF WINNEBAGO COUNTY, ILLINOIS 
Soil Area in 
type Name of type square 
No. miles 
(a) Upland Prairie Soils (page 34) 
626 } 
726 § | Brown silt loam.............. esses eee cere eee e ene 110.08 
626.5 ) 
726.5% | Brown silt loam on TOCK. ¢ 05.5 11 Wises se nee 10 
5 
B70 pe Black:elay loam, 224 yet eeeaet ose ag Marae eee 1.08 
628 ‘ : 
798 f Brown-gray sit loam on tight Clay owe fc. wks. eteeis iets 1:19 
oa Brown’ sandy oem srs tee ciel ow a Pus, Sioepene teint Sethe ky ac ie 98.50 
/60.5:)] Brown ‘sandy lo0gmie On urOGkerr @ e.5 6 eae ee oa 7.10 
781 Dune *.8and Atte oo tetera Cae: en ke cre | 3.05 
(b) Upland Timber Soils (page 43) 
ee Yellow-gray Siutidoam yr tas fe gece ote ot, ate re ees eee 83.18 
ae b\ | Fellow silt loam fs) lena ce ose eee mere ante 25.39 
635.5 Yellow sil¢ioam on rocks. i..8 sa ee eee 4,27 
632 Light gray siltcloam on tight wlays7. cor mee eee Genie 31 
764 Yellow-eray.ssandy? loam ni. «ce eke re 23.91 ° 
764.5." )Yellow-pray sandy loamuon TOCk wc = sees re 1.94 
665 
765 | Yollow sandy" loamn Sages. ects We ones aes eae eee 3.55 
765.5 "3 Yellowzsandysloam “OD ULOCK 2. fics. cle cee eee Myf 
9 
790 § [Gravelly Toam....... +. Gravelly loamiz x. wi... es eee sabes Whe, vs ERI ev ae teen 6.16 
(c) Residual Soils (page 53) 
ae STO LOAM Ja Lists uw.» ome boecet ogenaeela set ene eenee a ee eee 2.25 
799 Rock Soutdérops son 8 A. ee S Cie ee toot ret tices en eee 02 
(d) Terrace Soils (page 54) 
1520 Black-clay- loam: sash, teenie estes ence mana eee 2.08 
1526 Brown. Sut oars oe takes chines See oleae eben een 4.75 
1527 Brown ‘silt loamsover.oravel.. ji sa et ee eee 5.88 
1528 Brown-gray silt loam on tight clay................... 2.45 
1532 Light: gray silt loamy eienaetek byl hes ee pee ee ee 6.58 
1536: “|:Yellow-gray' silt loamoover: oravelo. Sim ese hs 5.60 
1566.3. |: Brown*sandy loam jon’ Prayel sa. FeAd. = seviameen ort ear tels 18.15 
1564 -|Yellow-pray. sandy, loam. s4cc% < oss = cme <lsine'n wietae cis slalee 2.16 
1566 Brown sandy, loant DVEr +2Tavel ovo: be a .smie eae auton ane 34.43 
1581 Dune ‘sande. % sade tee el ace ao eee ee na ec ar cee ee ae te 
(e) Late Swamp and Bottom-Land Soils (page 59) 
1401 Deep peat Favs fone jae cee seaaeeereeh tree oles thee Teg tame 2.23 
1402 Medium peatson “clays. £:...%'ive pause Se Math atures .43 
140994 Medium  peat-on Sand. oes race eit ror ain hot erates OF 
1403 Shallow peat on clay..... AWM CON aS keh Soy 08 
1410-2.)|-Peaty loam :0n 8a nd a. a eas ware cee ae eee 4.43 
1450 Black mixed loamavecasewe ca ete oe auerate erase ea ana eee 17229 
1454 Mixed toam. (bottom Jan ic tia. oe eee eer ee ee 34.33 
f Ws) n2) Renae SOR Roni hor es hy POO RSET 8 kote cap ms ca SE 515.66 


63 


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2 
11 
21 


330 


that it is more than 30 inches. 


428 
275 
173 

51 
835 
066 
a 


023 


[J anuary, 


Percent 
of total 


area 


21.35 
03 
21 

+23 


19.10 


1.38 
.60 


16.13 


4.92 


82 
.06 
4.63 
38 


.69 
4 
1.19 


43 
.08 
05 
02 
86 
3.05 
6.64 


100.00 


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(d) TERRACE SOILS (e) LATE SWAMP AND BOTTOM LAND SOILS 
Black clay loam Deep peat 
Brown silt loam a Medium peat on clay 
Brown silt loam over gravel wee | Medium peat on sand ae 
Brown-gray silt loam on tight clay [96s | Shallow peat on clay 
Light gray silt loam _ Peaty loam on sand 
Yellow-gray silt loam over gravel Black mixed loam 


Mixed loam (bottom land) 


[ = | Brown sandy loam on gravel 
! 
Yellow-gray sandy loam 600 Pre-lowan glaciation 


Brown sandy loam over gravel 700 Jowan glaciation 


Sais Dune sand 


SOIL SURVEY M: 
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS 


LEGEND 


(a) UPLAND PRAIRIE SOILS (b) UPLAND TIMBER SOILS (c) RESIDUAL 
Brown silt loam = | Yellow-gray silt loam Bo Stony loam 
Brown silt loam on rock [ & | Yellow silt loam Rock outcrop 
Black clay loam ; = | Yellow silt loam on rock Ra Small areas of gravelly loam 
Brown-gray silt loam on tight clay [ we | Light-gray silt loam on tight clay Fae] Small areas of stony loam 
Brown sandy loam Yellow-gray sandy loam ia Small areas of rock outcrop 
Brown sandy loam on rock [ 75 | Yellow-gray sandy loam on rock 


Dune sand 765 | Yellow sandy loam 
Yellow sandy loam on rock 


Gravelly loam 
1450 

Sash 

790 

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> OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY DRE Rte aS 
tRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION : 


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1916} WINNEBAGO COUNTY 


THE INVOICE AND INCREASE OF FERTILITY IN WINNEBAGO 
COUNTY SOILS 


Sor. ANALYSIS 


In order to avoid confusion in applying in a practical way the technical 
information contained in this report, the results are given in the most simplified 
form. The composition reported for a given soil type is, as a rule, the average 
of many analyses, which, like most things in nature, show more or less variation ; 
but for all practical purposes the average is most trustworthy and sufficient. 
(See Bulletin 123, which reports the general soil survey of the state, together 
with many hundred individual analyses of soil samples representing twenty- 
five of the most important and most extensive soil types in the state.) 

The chemical analysis of a soil gives the invoice of fertility actually present 
in the soil strata sampled and analyzed, but, as explained in the Appendix, 
the rate of liberation is governed by many factors. Also, as there stated, prob- 
ably no agricultural fact is more generally known by farmers and landowners 
than that soils differ in productive power. Even tho plowed alike and at the 
same time, prepared the same way, planted the same day with the same kind 
of seed, and cultivated alike, watered by the same rains and warmed by the 
same sun, nevertheless the best acre may produce twice as large a crop as the 
poorest acre on the same farm, if not, indeed, in the same field; and the fact 
should be repeated and emphasized that the productive power of normal soil in 
humid sections depends upon the stock of plant food contained in the soil and 
upon the rate at which it is liberated. 

The fact may be repeated, too, that crops are not made out of nothing. 
They are composed of ten different elements of plant food, every one of which 
is absolutely essential for the growth and formation of every agricultural plant. 
Of these ten elements of plant food, only two (carbon and oxygen) are secured 
from the air by all plants, only one (hydrogen) from water, while seven are 
secured from the soil. Nitrogen, one of these seven elements secured from the 
soil by all plants, may also be secured from the air by one class of plants 
(legumes) in case the amount liberated from the soil is insufficient. But even 
the leguminous plants (which include the clovers, peas, beans, alfalfa, and 
vetches), in common with other agricultural plants, secure from the soil alone 
six elements (phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron, and sulfur) 
and also utilize the soil nitrogen so far as it becomes soluble and available during 
their period of growth. 

Table A in the Appendix shows the requirements of large crops for the 
five most important plant-food elements which the soil must furnish. (Iron 
and sulfur are supplied normally fram natural sources in sufficient abundance. 
compared with the amounts needed by plants, so that they are never known to 
limit the yield of common farm crops. ) 

In Table 2 are reported the amounts of organic carbon (the best measure 
of the organic matter) and the total amounts of the five important elements of 
plant food contained in 2 million pounds of the surface soil of each type in 
Winnebago county—the plowed soil of an acre about 624% inches deep. In addi- 
tion, the table shows the amount of limestone present, if any, or the soil acidity 
as measured by the amount of limestone required to neutralize it. 


type 
No. 


626 
726 


Soil 


j 


Sort Report No. 12 


[ January, 


TABLE 2,—FERTILITY IN THE SOILS OF WINNEBAGO CouNTY, ILLINOIS 
Average pounds per acre in 2 million pounds of surface soil (about 0 to 6% inches) 


Total | Total|Total | Total | Total 
Soil type organic] nitro- | phos- | potas- |magne- 
carbon | gen |phorus, sium sium 
Upland Prairie Soils 
Brown silt loam....... 52 030) 4 400) 1 220) 35 260) 8 360 
Brown silt loam on rock} 43 620] 3 960} 980/32 940| 7 560 
Black clay loam....... 120 380/10 840} 1 940/28 800 |14 920 
Brown-gray silt loam 
on lights claye. oct... 57 510} 5 530) 1 300/33 780] 7 720 
Brown sandy loam..... 33 100} 2 910) 790|}28 830} 5 450 
Brown sandy loam on 
TOCK Was Piva cis tee 48 250} 4 170) 1 210|24 890 | 7 560 
Dine sand sno wens outs 10 430 730} 600)13 570] 1 950 
Upland Timber Soils 
Yellow-gray silt loam..| 22 880) 2 200; 870/36 610| 6 760 
Yellow silt loam...... 28 850} 2 480! 910/34 280| 7 500 
Yellow silt loam on rock} 44 180} 3 630) 1 060/35 090 | 8 210 
Light gray silt loam on 
tights clavec. were. ce: 27 580} 2 440) 1 040} 34 940 | 4 940 
Yellow-gray sandy loam} 19 320] 1 530; 5380/23 560) 3 420 
Yellow-gray sandy loam 
OUMOCK Sr ook toes ete 19 720] 1 640; 500/21 700} 4 500. 
Yellow sandy loam....| 21 960} 1 ia 560) 32 740 | 4 760 
Yellow sandy loam on ag 
TOCK Ve, net cries ote ere 11 340} 1 080, 460|17 240| 3 780 
Gravelly loam ...... .-| 49 810] 4 320) 1 760| 20 630/15 180 
Residual Soils 
Stony. loge ce re te | 15 820 1 660; 740|33 400 be 640 | 
Terrace Soils 
Black clay loam....... 87 180] 7 560} 1 840) 35 780 | 12 220 
Brown silt loam....... 93 580] 7 160) 2 180|)31 440/10 820 
Brown silt loam over 
pravelyy se cdak ster « 55 020] 4 820) 1 660/34 340 | 7 920 
Brown-gray silt loam on} 57 510] 5 5380/1 300/38 780| 7 720 
tots Clay, peg eeteean 
Light gray silt loam..| 28 180} 2 440) 1 140/38 800 | 7 040 
Yellow-gray silt loam 
overrreravele:. -...5 26 220; 2 660) 1 300/36 680} 5 900 
Brown sandy loam on | 7 
DVAVEE Ns eee cto 47 120) 4 040} 1 060) 25 680} 7 380 
Yellow-gray sandy loam] 25 800} 2 000) 820/26 140 | 4 860 
Brown sandy loam over 
STAVEli ee eee 26 260; 2 170; 850/17 890] 4 240 
Dune "sand Mate tecoretee sme 10 430 730} 600/13 570) 1 950 
en shel steie kt 49 810] 4 320) 1 760/20 630.|15 180 


Total 
ealeium 


Lime- 
stone 
present 


710 
580 


020; 8 520 


140 
220 


8 180 
2 060 


20 
Li 


mo PA 


27 


910 


840 
130 


980 
410 


720 


580 


400 
970 


660 


860 
300 


980 
140 
400 
020 


440 
900 


170 
060 
970| 82 450 


Soil 
acidity 
present 


100 
100 
150 
100 

60 


60 
40 


70 
360 


1916] WINNEBAGO COUNTY 


TABLE 2.—Continued 


“I 


Soil Total |Total ;Total | Total { Total | Lime- Soil 

type Soil type organic |nitro- | phos- | potas- | magne-| T°t@l | stone | acidity 
__No. carbon | gen {phorus} sium | sium calcium | present |present 

Late Swamp and Bottom-Land Soils 
1401 GET DOR rane ot. o's ares 327 040/28 880| 3 800| 4 410] 5 750 | 25 360 110 
1402 Medium peat? on clay. .|300 470(|26 930 2 730| 4 680| 7 140] 55 430| 53 970 
1402.2 Medium peat* on sand. |174 020/15 030; 1 220] 9 520| 4 040| 15 710} 4 820 
1403 Shallow peat? on clay. .|203 900/16 930] 2 280|10 1380} 5 510] 19 390 60 
1410.2 Peaty loam on sand...|152 440/16 280) 2 180/16 600 | 6 540/ 37 180| 42 340 
1450 Black mixed loam..... 99 060/11 300) 2 480] 26 160 | 28 560 |101 360/240 460 
1454 Mixed loam (bottom 
Litt b tea a ar Ar ane 73 160} 6 770} 1 860|}31 560/10 450] 18 780 40 


*Composition reported for 1 million pounds. 


The soil to the depth indicated includes at least as much as is ordinarily 
turned with the plow, and represents that part with which the farm manure, 
limestone, phosphate, or other fertilizer applied in soil improvement is incor- 
porated. It is the soil stratum that must be depended upon in large part to 
furnish the necessary plant food for the production of crops, as will be seen 
from the information given in the Appendix. Even a rich subsoil has little or 
no value if it lies beneath a worn-out surface, for the weak, shallow-rooted plants 
will be unable to reach the supply of plant food in the subsoil. If, however, 
the fertility of the surface soil is maintained at a high point, then the plants, 
with a vigorous start from the rich surface soil, can draw upon the subsurface 
and subsoil for a greater supply of plant food. 

By easy computation it will be found that the most common prairie soil 
of Winnebago county (brown silt loam) does not contain more than enough 
total nitrogen in the plowed soil for the production of maximum crops for 
thirty-five years, while the upland timber soils contain, as an average, much less 
nitrogen than the prairie land. 

With respect to phosphorus, the condition differs only in degree, the most 
extensive soil type of the county containing no more of that element than would 
be required for sixteen crop rotations if such yields were secured as are sug- 
gested in Table A of the Appendix. It will be seen from the same table that in 
the ease of the cereals about three-fourths of the phosphorus taken from the 
soil is deposited in the grain, while only one-fourth remains in the straw or stalks. 

On the other hand, the potassium is sufficient for 28 centuries if only the 
grain is sold, or for 440 years even if the total crops should be removed and 
nothing returned. The corresponding figures are about 2,000 and 500 years 
for magnesium, and about 10,000 and 730 years for calcium. Thus, when meas- 
ured by the actual crop requirements for plant food, potassium is no more 
limited than magnesium and calcium; and, as explained in the Appendix, with 
magnesium, and more especially with calcium, we must also consider the fact 
that loss by leaching is far greater than by cropping. 

These general statements relating to the total quantities of plant food in 
the plowed soil certainly emphasize the fact that the supplies of some of these 
necessary elements of fertility are extremely limited when measured by the 
needs of large crop yields for even one or two generations of people; and, with 
a, population increasing by more than 20 percent each decade, the future needs 
of the people dependent upon the corn belt are likely to be far greater than the 
requirements of the past, and soil fertility and crop yields should not decrease 
but should increase. 


8 Sort Report No. 12 [ January, 


The variation among the different types of soil in Winnebago county with 
respect to their content of important plant-food elements is very marked. The 
richest prairie land (black clay loam) contains five times as much nitrogen and 
twice as much phosphorus as the common: upland timber soils; and the deep 
peat soil contains thirteen times as much nitrogen but only one-eighth as much 
potassium as the yellow-gray silt loam. The most significant facts revealed by 
the investigation of the Winnebago county soils are the lack of limestone and 
the low content of phosphorus, or nitrogen, or both, in the most common prairie 
and timber types. And yet these deficiences can be overcome at relatively small 
expense by the application of ground limestone and fine-ground raw rock phos- 
phate, and, after these are provided, by the use of clover—which can then be 
grown with more certainty and in greater abundance, and nitrogen thus secured 
from the inexhaustible supply in the air. If the clover is then returned to the 
soil, either directly or in farm manure, the combined effect of limestone, phos- 
phorus, and nitrogenous organic matter, with a good rotation of crops, will in 
time double the yield of corn and other crops on most farms. 

Fortunately, some definite field experiments have already been conducted 
on brown silt loam, the most extensive type of soil in the county. Before con- 
sidering in detail the individual soil types, it seems advisable to study some of 
the results already obtained on the Rockford soil experiment field, and also on 
some other experiment fields in different parts of Illinois, where definite systems 
of soil improvement have been tried out. 


RESULTS OF EXPERIMENTS ON ROCKFORD FIELD 


The Rockford soil experiment field is located on the farm of Mr. George F. 
Tullock, about three miles north of the city of Rockford. It occupies the northeast 
ten acres of the southwest forty and about three acres of the west part of the 
northwest ten of the southeast forty, of the southwest quarter of Section 34, 
Township 45 North, Range 1 East of the 3d P. M. 

This field was established after a soil survey, directed by the United States 
Bureau of Soils, had been completed. This survey had classified the soil as 
‘“Winnebago sandy loam’’ (brown sandy loam), and it is so referred to in Bul- 
letin 123 of the Illinois Experiment Station; but the subsequent more detailed 
survey conducted by the Station shows the field as brown silt loam. It should 
be noted, however, that the brown silt loam of both the Iowan and the pre-Iowan 
glaciations, the glaciations found in Winnebago county, contains a larger per- 
centage of sand and is consequently somewhat more porous, in both top soil and 
subsoil, than the corresponding type in the middle Illinois, the upper Illinois, 
and the early Wisconsin glaciations. (The more porous subsoil affords a deeper 
feeding range for plant roots, which enables the crop to draw upon the mineral 
plant food to a greater extent than in more compact soils.) The average nitro- 
gen content of this soil type is less in Winnebago county than in some other 
sections of the state, in part, perhaps, because of the more rolling topography— 
and the soil on the Rockford field was, at the beginning of the experiments, even 
poorer in nitrogen than the average for this type in the county. 

Because of the above facts, the addition of organic manures, supplying 
nitrogen, is the first requisite for the improvement of this soil, at least for the 
lighter phase or where it is much worn, Enrichment in phosphorus probably 


1916] WINNEBAGO CoUNTY 9 


ranks second in importance, altho on the heavier phase or where the previous 
farm practice has included liberal use of manures, phosphorus may be of first 
importance. 

In Tables 3, 4, 5, and 6 are recorded the detailed results from eleven years’ 
work on the Rockford field, which includes 80 tenth-acre plots arranged in four 
series of 20 plots each, the series being numbered 100 to 400 from north to south, 
and the plots 1 to 20 from west to east. The different kinds of soil treatment 
are shown by the tables. A four-year rotation is practiced, consisting of two 
erops of corn, followed by oats with clover seeding the third year and by clover 
the fourth year. When clover fails, soybeans are substituted in the fourth year, 
as they were in 1905, 1911, and 1912. 

On the residue plots of Series 100, 200, and 300, lezume cover crops were 
turned under in 1905, and on the corresponding plots of Series 400 the second- 
growth clover was turned under for the crop of 1909. In 1910 the complete 
residue (R) system was started on these plots, but it was not fully under way 
till 1913. This system includes returning to the soil the corn stalks, oat straw, 
and all legumes except the seed (whether clover or soybeans), and such cover 
erops (Cv) as may be grown, the latter being practically limited to some legume 
seeded in the first-year corn crop at the time of the last cultivation and plowed 
under for corn the next year. Under favorable conditions a satisfactory growth 
of red clover (common or mamoth), alsike, or sweet clover is usually secured ; 
but in very dry seasons it is scarcely worth while to seed the cover crop. | 

Manure (M) was first applied to the plots indicated, on Series 300 for the 
1906 crop, on Series 200 for 1907, Series 100 for 1908, and Series 400 for 1909, 
and subsequently in the same order. The initial applications were made at the 
rate of 8 tons per acre, but since 1909 the weight of manure applied has been 
- equal to the weight of the crops produced. On Plots 4, 9, and 14 of each series 
some cover crops have also been grown, as shown by the tables. 

Ground limestone (L) was applied to Plots 1 to 15 of all series for 1906 
at the rate of 1,300 pounds per acre, and again for 1913 at the rate of 4 tons 
per acre. As yet no conclusions are justified concerning its effects. 

Once every four years to part of the plots in each series phosphorus (P) 
has been applied in 1 ton per acre of rock phosphate, and potassium (kalium—K) 
in 400 pounds per acre of potassium sulfate, after beginning in 1904-5 with an 
application of three-fourths of these amounts on Series 300, full amounts on 
Series 200, five-fourths on Series 100, and six-fourths on Series 400. 

In order to help settle the question whether commercial nitrogen could be 
used with profit, nitrogen (N) has been applied to Plot 19 at the rate of 25 
pounds per acre per annum. Nearly the total amount for the first four years 
was applied in 1904, but since 1907 the applications have been made annually. 

In Table 7 are shown the values of the increases produced from 1907 to 
1914 by the different materials applied. It should be kept in mind that the full 
treatment on the manured plots dates from 1909, and that the residue system 
was not fully under way till 1918. 

One method of computing the increase from a given treatment is to deduct 
from the total produce the computed yield of the same plot if it had not been 
so treated. For example, in 1914 the actual yield of corn on Plot 401 was 47.0 


[ January, 


Sor. Report No. 12 


10 


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13 


WINNEBAGO COUNTY 


1916] 


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[ January, 


Sort Report No. 12 


14 


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1916] WINNEBAGO CoUNtTY 15 


bushels, and on Plot 405, 47.8 bushels. The increase in yields for the organic 
manures on Plots 402, 403, and 404, lying between these two check plots, may 
therefore be based on the assumption that with no organic manures the yields 
would have been 47.2, 47.4, and 47.6 bushels, respectively. The increase for 
phosphorus may be computed by the same method, or it may be computed by 
deducting the yield secured without phosphorus from the yield secured where 
phosphorus has been applied on comparable plots, or the increase without phos- 
phorus from the increase with phosphorus. 

The crop values given in Tables 3, 4, 5, and 6 serve as the basis for comput- 
ing the value of the increases summarized in Table 7. The average increase of five 
trials with phosphorus, for example, is based upon the results from Plots 6, 7, 
8, 9, and 17 of each series, and is found by comparing the return from Plot 6 
with the computed return had no phosphorus been applied, the increases from 
Plots 7, 8, and 9, based on computed yields, with the increases from Plots 2, 3, 
and 4, respectively, and the returns from Plot 17 with those from Plot 16. 

While the cumulative effects of permanent systems of soil improvement are 
already becoming very marked, final conclusions cannot be drawn as to the 
relative or absolute value of the several materials used, except that, as a rule, 
organic manures are evidently of first importance. Thus, in 1914 corn after 
corn on Series 400 varied in yield from 52.1 bushels per acre, as an average of 
four plots receiving limestone with no manure or crop residues, to 72.3 where 
crganic matter is added (average of Plots 402, 403, and 404), to 84.7 where 
phosphorus is also applied (average of Plots 407, 408, and 409), and to 88.5 
where potassium is used as a further addition (average of Plots 412, 413, and 
414); while 92.8 bushels per acre were produced on Plot 419, receiving crop 
residues, limestone, phosphorus, potassium, and commercial nitrogen. The 
_ photographic illustrations of the 1915 clover crop (Plates 1 and 2) also suggest 
the cumulative effect of soil improvement. The vields reported are tons per 
acre of field-cured clover hay. 

The crop values from all plots in all series are given in Tables 3, 4, 5, and 
6 for the first three-year period and for the two succeeding four-year periods. 
The increases in values for the two full rotations, 1907 to 1914, resulting from 
the various applications, are summarized in Table 7. The ‘‘lower prices’’ used 
are 35 cents a bushel for corn, 28 cents for oats, 70 cents for soybeans, $7 for 
clover seed, and $7 a ton for hay; the ‘‘higher prices’’ are 50 cents a bushel for 
corn, 40 cents for oats, $1 for soybeans, $10 for clover seed, and $10 a ton for 
hay. The crop yields are all recorded, and one may compute the values at any 
other prices if he desires. It should be kept in mind that increases in crop yields 
resulting from soil treatment should be valued by the farm operator at reason- 
able prices for the crops standing in the field ready for harvest; while the land- 
owner whose farm is operated by a tenant and who usually receives his share of 
the produce delivered at the market or placed in storage, may safely base his 
returns upon a higher valuation. 

In Bulletin 123 and in the Appendix of this and other Soil Reports, atten- 
tion is called to the fact that potassium produces little or no effect on normal 
Illinois soils when applied in connection with plenty of decaying organic matter ; 
but if no adequate provision is made for organic matter, then potassium becomes 
effective, probably in large part because of its stimulating action, other soluble 


16 Som Report No. 12 [ January, 


salts having a similar action. (See ‘‘The Potassium Problem’’ in the Appendix.) 
The averages by groups in Table 7 reveal in a very striking manner this action 
of potassium. They also indicate that the organic matter not only supplies 
nitrogen but also produces the same effect as potassium. 

A permanent system of maintaining soil fertility is of course impossible 
without the restoration of nitrogen; but without a knowledge of the scientific 
facts involved one might easily be misled for some years into believing that 
potash salts would take the place of organic manures, when used in addition to 
limestone and phosphorus. Thus, from the eight-year average shown in Table 
7 it will be seen that at the lower prices the annual increase from potassium 
without organic manures was $8.52 from four acres, but only $1.40 where 
applied in addition to manures; at the higher prices, the increases were worth 
$12.17 and $2, respectively. At $50 per ton for potassium sulfate, the cost of 
the 400 pounds applied to the four acres was $10. Thus while at the higher 
prices for produce potassium more than paid its cost when used without manures, 
it paid only one-fifth its cost when added to a rational system of soil improvement. 

Furthermore, where farm manure was used without potassium, it produced 
on four acres an annual increase of $10.32 in crop values, but where applied in 
addition to potassium it produced an increase of only $1.16. Only the known 
facts concerning the composition of the soil and the requirements of the crops, 
and the knowledge afforded by other long-continued field investigations, can 
protect us from drawing erroneous conclusions from such data as these. The 
results with crop residues only confirm those with manure: residues without 
potassium produced sufficient increase to counterbalance the extra crops har- 
vested from the check plots, but when used in addition to potassium they failed 
by $6.58 to overcome the loss from plowing under crops that would otherwise 
have been made into hay. 


PLATE 1.—CLOVER IN 1915 ON ROCKFORD I‘IELD 
On LEFT: No TREATMENT—YIELD, 1.44 Tons 
ON RIGHT: MANURE, LIMESTONE, AND PHOSPHORUS—YIELD, 2.90 TONS 


1916] WINNEBAGO COUNTY 17 


In 1914 the acre-yield of corn on Plot 406 (LP) was 53.2 bushels, and on 
Plot 411 (LPK) 82.8 bushels; while on Plot 407 (RLP) 80.2 bushels were grown, 
and on Plot 408 (MLP) 86.4 bushels. On Series 300 the corresponding acre- 
yields were 81.2 bushels (LP), 94.4 bushels (LPK), 88.4 bushels (RLP), and 
95.2 bushels (MLP). The averages of these data from the eleventh year of the 
experiment show 1 bushel more corn per acre where potassium was applied than 
where organic manures were used. However, in experiments covering thirty 
years at Pennsylvania State College, the crop values from four acres, as an 
average of the first five years, were only 22 cents higher with farm manure than 
with soluble phosphate and potash salts, and as an average of the first fifteen 
years only $2.11 higher; whereas during the second fifteen years the average 
return was $16.04 larger with farm manure. 

Phosphorus, as an average, has barely paid its cost, even at the higher 
prices for produce, but at least 600 pounds per acre of the applications still re- 
mains in the soil, which is now 50 percent richer in phosphorus than at the be- 
ginning, so that on the basis of investment the use of phosphorus might be 
considered profitable. In general, wheat and clover respond more markedly to 
phosphorus treatment than corn, oats, or soybeans, but no wheat is grown on 
the Rockford field and soybeans have sometimes been substituted for clover. 
Normally the effect of increasing the total supply of phosphorus becomes more 
and more pronounced on each succeeding crop yield, but in these experiments 
the effect during the last four years has been less than that for the preceding 
rotation. Perhaps this may be accounted for by seasonal variations. The future 
yearly cost of phosphorus will be reduced to about one-third the annual invest- 
ment thus far, for in the final system of soil maintenance not more than one- 


PLATE 2.—CLOVER IN 1915 ON ROCKFORD FIELD 
On LEFT: LIMESTONE—YIELD, 1.54 TONS 
ON RIGHT: LIMESTONE AND PHOSPHORUS—YIELD, 2.55 TONS 


18 Sor, Report No. 12 [ January, 


third as much phosphorus need be applied for each rotation as that used in the 
preliminary system of soil enrichment. 

Men pay more than $200 an acre for land because its productive power is 
high and durable, altho other land could be purchased for less than $50 which, 
if heavily fertilized, would produce as large crops. The difference of $150 or 
more per acre is invested in durability; and we may apply the same principle 
to investments in systems of substantial soil enrichment. 

The application of potassium does not enrich the soil as does the application 
cf phosphorus, for the plowed soil of an acre already contains 35,000 pounds of 
potassium, which is nearly a thousand times the average yearly application of 
42 pounds made at Rockford. 

Commercial nitrogen, at 15 cents a pound, has not paid its cost, as an 
average of the eleven years. The average return for the last four years, even at 
the higher prices, is about one-third the cost. 

Farm manure applied without potash salts at the average rate of 12.4 tons 
per acre per rotation was worth in increased yields, as an average, 83 cents per 
ton at the lower prices for produce, or $1.19 at the higher prices. Without 
doubt the manure will have a cumulative effect. When comparing the rotations 
reported in Table 7, one should remember that the rate of application of manure 
was only 8 tons per acre for the years 1906 to 1909, and about 15 tons per acre, 
as an average, for the years 1910 to 1914, the proper plots on one series only 
being manured each year before the first corn crop in the rotation. 


RESULTS OF EXPERIMENTS ON Mt. Morris FIELD 


The Mt. Morris experiment field, located on the brown silt loam prairie in 
Ogle county, was started in the spring of 1910, but no soil treatment was begun 
until the fall of that year. Series 200 (the results from which are recorded in 
Table 8) was the first series to receive full soil treatment. While the limestone 
was not applied till after the crop season of 1912, the other treatments indi- 
eated were under way on that series from 1912 to 1915. It may be noted, how- 
ever, that the first full crop of clover was in 1914, and where this was plowed 
under its effeet on corn and oats will not be secured till 1916 and 1917. Corn 
has not yet been grown on this series where the stalks from a previous corn 
crop have been plowed under in the residue system. On series 100 manure was 
first applied for 1915, and wheat will not be grown on manured land on that 
series till 1918. 

Thus, the first six or seven years must be regarded as a preliminary period 
in establishing permanent systems of soil enrichment in a four-crop rotation, 
where crops must be grown at least for one year before the proper rate of appli- 
cation for manure can be determined, as must be the case in farm practice, or 
where crop residues are depended upon for the maintenance of nitrogen. 

The data reported in Table 8 are far too meager to justify conclusions as 
to the ultimate results to be secured from these systems, but they are of some 
interest and value when considered in connection with the results from the 
Rockford field. Organic manures seem to be of first importance, while phos- 
phorus (applied as at Rockford, page 9), has already nearly paid its total cost 
even tho from two-thirds to three-fourths of the applications remains for posi- 
tive soil enrichment. 


1916] WINNEBAGO COUNTY 19 
TABLE 8,—CropP YIELDS PER ACRE IN Soin EXPERIMENTS, Mt. Morris FIELD 
Brown Sint LOAM PRAIRIE 


Soil Wheat Value of 4 crops Value of each addition 


Corn | Oats | Clover? 
treatment 

Plot | applied! | 1912] 1913} 1914 | 1915 | Tower |Higher Lower | Higher 

Bushels or tons per acre Pees. PELCRE ee aie: 
SOO ee 48.6 | 52.8 | 1.85 31.7 | $66.93 | $95.62 
POSAIMAGE At. ¢ | 56.8 | 63.0 | 2.74 35.9 | 81.83 | 116.90} M | $14.90 $21.28 
SOSH MI ss 57.4 | 50.3 | 3.44 | 40.1 |° 86.32 | 123.32| L 4.49 6.42 
ODAMIMEP = Sos. BS 7 ol 61. Fee abe 44.0 | 93.26 | 133.23) P 6.94 9.91 
TOR St mee as we: 49.6 | 48.8 | 1.74 30.8 | 64.76 92.52 
DiGotho sce 45.8 | 62.5 | (1.00) | 37.7 | 66.92 | 95.60) R 2.16 3.08 
Tat Ri. oes 48.8 | 63.3 | (125) }| 42.1 | 73.02 | 104.32) L 6.10 8.72 
SOSMREP et, 53.0 | 69.2 | (1.00) 671-167 3,60 211 12,28. eo P 5.58 7.96 
909 IRUPK...... 62.1 | 63.1_ (1.67) | 48.2 | 84.83 | 121.19| K 6.23 8.91 
DIG oe 51.1 | 48.0 | (1.50) 42.9 | 71.86 | 102.65 


1The limestone was not applied till after the crop season of 1912. 
' *The figures in parentheses indicate bushels of seed; the others tons of hay. 


In this connection it is of interest to note that in the long-continued Penn- 
sylvania experiments, as reported by Director Hunt in an address before the 
Illinois State Farmers’ Institute at Centralia in 1912 (pages 31 to 47) and in 
Bulletin 90 of the Pennsylvania Agricultural Experiment Station, phosphorus 
applied in soluble acid phosphate at a cost of $3.84 per acre for each four-year 
rotation [corn, oats, wheat, and hay (mixed clover and timothy)] paid back 
only $3.61 during the first ten years, or a little more than one-third of its total 
eost, $9.60, but during the second ten years it paid $23.93, or more than double 
its cost, and during the third ten-year period, $33.32, or more than three times 
its cost. While Illinois prices or methods of interpretation would change these 
figures, a markedly increasing effect would still be shown from the use of phos- 
phorus. Director Thorne of the Ohio Experiment Station has often called atten- 
tion to the fact that phosphorus applied in acid phosphate on the Wooster and 
Strongsville experiment fields produced much more marked effects in later years 
than at the beginning of the experiments. (Sce also the records of the experi- 
ments on the South Farm at Urbana, pages 20 to 28.) 

Ground limestone was applied to part of the plots in each series on ‘the Mt. 
Morris field, for 1913, at the rate of 4 tons per acre. Table 8 indicates that it 
has already produced distinct benefit both to the clover and to the wheat follow- 
ing clover. Potassium is applied at the yearly rate of 20 pounds in 200 pounds 
of kainit, instead of 42 pounds in 100 pounds of potassium sulfate, as at Rock- 
ford. The results thus far secured suggest that the effects are better correlated 
with total salts than with their potassium content, and that the action is, in part 
at least, that of a stimulant. 

The increase in erop values from $66.93 to $93.26, because of the use of 
ground limestone, fine-ground natural rock phosphate, and ‘‘home-grown’’ 
manure, in permanent soil improvement, is significant and encouraging. 

In another rotation at Mt Morris, which was started in 1913, potatoes are 
srown. The applications per acre to the respective plots are 4 tons of limestone 
and 2 tons of rock phosphate for an eight-year rotation (two crops of potatoes 
and six of alfalfa), and 15 tons of manure for each potato crop. In Table 9 
are given the results secured thus far, The value of manure is plainly shown, 


20 Soit Report No. 12 [ January, 


TABLE 9.— YIELD OF POTATOES ON MT. MorRRIS FIELD 
BrRowN SILT LOAM PRAIRIE 


Siig ee : 1913 1914 Value of 2 crops 
reatmen 
Plot x ate A Busheis Bushels Lower price Higher price 
per acre per acre (35 cents) (50 cents) 

HULU A es eer wrae Rect! | 112 78 $66.50 $95.00 
HOG eaeNes see oe yp carina eee 163 158 112.35 160.50 
BOS eg ML Lie Ge SoS Ca saver st Paecaey oe eas 184 174 125.30 179.00 
504 (MUP 6. eee eles veel 208 175 134.05 191.50 


and the effect of limestone and phosphorus suggests that both may be used to 
advantage in permanent systems. The total enrichment has more than doubled 
the erop values. | 

RESULTS OF FrrLD EXPERIMENTS AT URBANA 


A three-year rotation of corn, oats, and clover was begun on the North 
Farm at the University of Illinois in 1902, on three fields of typical brown silt 
loam prairie land which, after twenty years or more of pasturing, had grown 
corn in 1895, 1896, and 1897 (when careful records were kept of the yields pro- 
duced), and had then been cropped with clover and grass on one field (Series 
100), oats on another (Series 200), and oats, cowpeas, and corn on the third 
field (Series 300) until 1901. From 1902 to 1910 the three-year rotation (with 
cowpeas in place of clover in 1902) was followed. The average yields are re- 
eorded in Table 10. 

A small crop of cowpeas in 1902 and a partial crop of clover in 1904 con- 
stituted all the hay harvested during the first rotation, mammoth clover grown 
in 1903 having lodged so that it was plowed under. (The yields of clover in 
1903 were taken by carefully weighing the yields from small representative 
areas; but while the differences were thus ascertained and properly credited 
temporarily to the different soil treatments, they must ultimately reappear in 
subsequent crop yields, and consequently the 1903 clover crop is omitted from 
Table 10 in computing yields and values.) The average yields of hay shown in 
the table represent one-third of the two small crops. 

From 1902 to 1907 legume cover crops (Le), such as cowpeas and clover, 
were seeded in the corn at the last cultivation on Plots 2, 4, 6, and 8, but the 
gsrowth was small and the effect, if any, was to decrease the returns from the 
regular crops. Since 1907 erop residues (R) have been returned to those plots. 
These consist of the stalks of corn, the straw of small grains, and all legumes 
except alfalfa hay and the seed of clover and soybeans. 

On Plots 3, 5, 7, and 9, manure (M) was applied for corn at the rate of 6 
tons per acre during the second rotation, and subsequently as many tons of 
manure have been applied as there have been tons of air-dry produce harvested 
from the corresponding plots. 

Lime (lL) was applied on Plots 4 to 10 at the rate per acre of 250 pounds 
of air-slaked lime in 1902 and 600 pounds of limestone in 1903. Subsequently 
2 tons per acre of limestone was applied to these plots on Series 100 in 1911, on 
Series 200 in 1912, on Series 300 in 1918, and on Series 400 in 1914; also 214 
tons per acre on Series 500 in 1911, two more fields having been brought into 
rotation, as explained on the following page. 


1916} WINNEBAGO COUNTY 21 


Phosphorus (P) has been applied on Plots 6 to 9 at the rate of 25 pounds 
per acre per annum in 200 pounds of steamed bone meal; but beginning with 
1908, one-half of each phosphorus plot has received 600 pounds of rock phosphate 
in place of the 200 pounds of bone meal, the usual practice being to apply and 
plow under at one time all phosphorus and potassium required for the rotation. 

Potassium (K=—kalium) has been applied on Plots 8 and 9 at the yearly rate 
of 42 pounds per acre in 100 pounds of potassium sulfate, regularly in connection 
with the bone meal and rock phosphate. 

On plot 10 about five times as much manure and phosphorus are applied as 
on the other plots, but this ‘‘extra heavy’’ treatment was not begun until 1906, 
only the usual lime, phosphorus, and potassium having been applied in previous 
years. The purpose in making these heavy applications is to try to determine 
the climatic possibilities in crop yields by removing the limitations of inadequate 
fertility. 

Series 400 and 500 were cropped in corn and oats from 1902 to 1910, but 
the various plots were treated the same as the corresponding plots in the three- 
year rotation. Beginning with 1911, the five series have been used for a com- 
bination rotation, wheat, corn, oats, and clover being rotated for five years on 
four fields, while alfalfa occupies the fifth field, which is then to be brought 
under the four-crop system to make place for alfalfa on one of the other fields 
for another five-year period, and so on. (See Table 11.) 

From 1911 to 1914 soybeans were substituted three years because of clover 
failure; accordingly three-fourths of the soybeans and one-fourth of the clover 
are used to compute values. Alfalfa from the 1911 seeding so nearly failed that 
after cutting one crop in 1912 the field was plowed and reseeded. The average 
yield reported for alfalfa in Table 11 is one-fourth of the combined erops of 

1912, 1913, and 1914. 22 

The ‘‘higher prices’’ allowed for produce are $1 a bushel for wheat and 
soybeans, 50 cents for corn, 40 cents for oats, $10 for clover seed, and $10 a ton 
for hay; while the ‘‘lower prices’’ are 70 percent of these values, or 70 cents for 
wheat and soybeans, 35 cents for corn, 28 cents for oats, $7 for clover seed, and 
$7 a ton for hay. The two sets of values are used to emphasize the fact that a 

given practice may or may not be profitable, depending upon the prices of farm 
produce. The lower prices are conservative, and unless otherwise stated, they 
are the values regularly used in the discussion of results. It should be under- 
stood that the increase produced by manures and fertilizers requires increased 
expense for binding twine, shocking, stacking, baling, threshing, hauling, storing, 
and marketing. Measured by the average [Illinois prices for the past ten years, 
these lower values are high enough for farm crops standing in the field ready 
for the harvest. 

The cost of limestone delivered at a farmer’s railroad station in carload 
lots averages about $1.25 per ton. Steamed bone meal in carloads costs from 
$25 to $30 per ton. Fine-ground raw rock phosphate containing from 260 to 
280 pounds of phosphorus, or as much as the bone meal contains, ton for ton, 
but in less readily available form, usually costs the farmer from $6.50 to $7.50 
per ton in carloads. (Acid phosphate carrying half as much phosphorus, but in 
soluble form, commonly costs from $15 to $17 per ton delivered in carload lots 
in central Illinois.) Under normal condition potassium costs about 6 cents a 


[ January, 


Som Report No. 12 


22 


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68°SOLT | ol PL 06S | OES | 606 | Md IW OS TIT | 0882 | ELE | 699 | 9S6 | Md'IW] LE°08 | 94°99 | FET | SPS | G06 Toy LieeG 
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1916] WINNEBAGO COUNTY 23 


TABLE 11.—YIELDS PER ACRE, FOUR-YEAR AVERAGES, 1911-1914: URBANA FIELD 
Brown Siut LOAM PRAIRIE; EARLY WISCONSIN GLACIATION 


ri i | V s 
= ie hans Wheat, | Corn, | Oats, |Soybeans-3,| Clover-1, /Alfalfa, bana: AS)! 
No mes bu. bu. bu. | tons (bu.) | tons (bu.) | tons | Lower | Higher 
prices | prices 

1 Ue Rie 18.3 50.8 39.8 1.60 1.70 1.70 | $65.00 | $92.87 

2 Eanes 19.7 53.8 40.6 (20.1) ( .74) 1,27 64.72 92.47 
3 i Ae 20.3 59.3 48.8 1.60 1.43 1.13 67.44 96.35 
Fie Ts Pai 22.3 | 55.7 | 42.8 | (19.0) (1.03) 1.19 | 67.20 | 96.00 
5 INET See estes: 24.9 58.6 51.6 1.66 1.94 1.67 76.19 | 108.84 
6 PULSE vos ctceh 37.4, 62.2 58.7 (21.0) (2.48) 2.69 98.58 | 140.83 
iu MLP....| 36.6 63.8 60.9 1.88 2.90 2.63 98.36 | 140.51 

8 iat Wt Sal c@ Paes iets Lo pa | 58.9 59.1 (22.2) (1.41) 2.58 94.61 | 135.16 
9 MLPK..j| 35.3 59.6 65.1 2.09 2.72 2.66 98.15 | 140.22 
10 MxLPx..| 43.5 55.7 67.2 2.14 2.94 2.84 | 105.02 | 150.03 


pound, or $2.50 per acre per annum for the amount applied in these experiments, 
the same as the cost of 200 pounds of steamed bone meal at $25 per ton. 

To these cash investments must be added the expense of hauling and spread- 
ing the materials. This will vary with the distance from the farm to the railroad 
station, with the character of the roads, and with the farm force and the imme- 
diate requirements of other lines of farm work. It is the part of wisdom to order 
such materials in advance to be shipped when specified, so that they may be 
received and applied when other farm work is not too pressing and, if possible, 
when the roads are likely to be in good condition. 

The practice of seeding legume cover crops in the cornfield at the last culti- 
vation where oats are to follow the next year has not been found profitable, as a 
rule, on good corn-belt soil; but the returning of the crop residues to the land 
may maintain the nitrogen and organic matter equally as well as the hauling 
and spreading of farm manure—and this makes possible permanent systems of 
farming on grain farms as well as on live-stock farms, provided, of course, that 
other essentials are supplied. (Clover with oats or wheat, as a cover crop to be 
plowed under for corn, often gives good results.) 

At the lower prices for produce, manure (6 tons per acre) was worth $1.05 
a ton as an average for the first three years during which it was applied (1905 
to 1907). For the next rotation the average application of 10.21 tons per acre 
on Plot 3 was worth $10.09, or 99 cents a ton. During the last four years, 1911 
to 1914, the average amount applied (once for the rotation) on Plot 3 was 11.35 
tons per acre, worth $6.42, or 57 cents a ton, as measured by its effect on the 
wheat, corn, oats, soybeans, and clover. Thus, as an average of the ten years’ 
results, the farm manure applied to Plot 3 has been worth 84 cents a ton on 
common corn-belt prairie soil, with a good crop rotation including legumes. 
During the last rotation period moisture has been the limiting factor to such an 
extent as probably to lessen the effect of the manure. 

Aside from the crop residues and manure, each addition affords a duplicate 
test as to its effect. Thus the effect of limestone is ascertained by comparing 
Plots 4 and 5, not with Plot 1, but with Plots 2 and 3; and the effect of phos- 
phorus is ascertained by comparing Plots 6 and 7 with Plots 4 and 5 respectively. 

As a general average, the plots receiving limestone have produced $1.22 an 
acre a year more than those without limestone, and this corresponds to more 


[ January, 


Sort Report No. 12 


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1916} 


26 Som, Report No. 12 [January, 


than $6 a ton for all of the limestone applied; but the amounts used before 
1911 were so small and the results vary so greatly with the different plots, crops, 
and seasons that final conclusions cannot be drawn until further data are se- 
cured, the first 2-ton applications having been completed only for 1914.- How- 
ever, all comparisons by rotation periods show some increase for limestone, these 
increases varying from 82 cents on three acres (Plot 4) during the first rotation, 
to $8.75 on five acres (Plot 5) as an average of the last four years. The need 
of limestone for best results and highest profits seems well established. 

As an average of duplicate trials (Plots 6 and 7), phosphorus in bone meal 
produced increases valued at $1.92 per acre per annum for the first three years 
and at $4.67 for the next three; and the corresponding subsequent average in- 
creases from bone meal and raw phosphate (one-half plot of each) were $5.12 
for the third rotation and $5.36 for the last four years, 1911 to 1914. The 
annual expense per acre for phosphorus is $2.80 in bone meal at $28 a ton, or 
¢2.10 for rock phosphate at $7 a ton. 

Potassium, applied at an estimated cost of $2.50 an acre a year, seemed to 
produce slight increases, as an average, during the first and second rotations; 
but subsequently those increases have been slightly more than lost in reduced 


CROP RESIDUES 


PLATE 3.—CLOVER ON URBANA FIELD, SouTH FaRM 
CROP RESIDUES PLOWED UNDER 


1916) WINNEBAGO COUNTY 27 


average yields, the net result to date being an average loss of $2.53 per acre per 
annum, including the cost of the potassium. 

Thus phosphorus nearly paid its cost during the first rotation, and has sub- 
sequently paid its annual cost and about 100 percent net profit; while potassium, 
as an average, has produced no effect, and money spent for its application has 
been lost. These field results are in harmony with what might well be expected 
on land naturally containing in the plowed soil of an acre only about 1,200 
pounds of phosphorus and more than 36,000 pounds of potassium. 

The total value of five average crops harvested from the untreated land 
during the last four years is $65. Where limestone and phosphorus have been 
used together with organic manures (either crop residues or farm manure), the 
corresponding value exceeds $98. Thus 200 acres of the properly treated land 
would produce as much in crops and in value as 300 acres of the untreated land. 

The excessive applications on Plot 10 have usually produced rank growth 
of straw and stalk, with the result that oats have often lodged badly and corn 
has frequently suffered from drouth and eared poorly. Wheat, however, has as 
an average yielded best on this plot. The largest yield of corn on Plot 10 was 
118 bushels per acre in 1907. 


CROP RESHOUDS 
2OCK PHOSPHATE 


PLATE 4.—CLOVER ON URBANA FIELD, SouTH FARM 
FINE-GROUND RocK PHOSPHATE PLOWED UNDER WITH CROP RESIDUES 


28 Som Report No. 12 [January, 


As an average of the results secured during the twelve years 1903 to 1914, 
on the University South Farm where fine-ground raw rock phosphate is applied 
at the rate of 500 pounds per acre per annum on the typical brown silt loam 
prairie soil, the return for each ton of phosphate! used has been $13.57 on Series 
100 and $12.07 on Series 200, with the ‘‘lower prices’’ allowed for produce, the 
rotation being wheat, corn, oats, and clover (or soybeans). This gives an average 
return of $12.82 for each ton of phosphate applied. Averages for each rotation 
period show the following values for the increase per ton of phosphate used: 


Lower Higher 
prices prices 
First rotation, 1903*to: 1900.24) 3 cee tage: ve ee pee $ 8.26 $11.80 
Sééond .rotation; 1907; t0709 L0ew a7 ae ee i ce ete 11.33 16.19 
Third rotation, “1911 \to OTE Nai Ste kee see aoe 18.88 26.97 


Thus the rock phosphate paid back more than its cost during the first rota- 
tion, more than 114 times its cost during the second rotation, and more than 214 
times its cost during the third rotation period. 

One ton of fine-ground rock phosphate costs about the same as 500 pounds 
of steamed bone meal. Altho in less readily available form, the rock phosphate 
contains as much phosphorus, ton for ton, as the bone meal; and, when equal 
money values are applied. in connection with liberal amounts of decaying organic 
matter, the natural rock may soon give as good results as the bone—and, by 
supplying about four times as much phosphorus, the rock provides for greater 
durability. 

The results just given represent averages covering the residue system and » 
the live-stock system, both of which are represented in this crop rotation on the 
South Farm. 

Ground limestone at the rate of 8 tons per acre was applied to the east half 
of these series of plots (excepting the check plots, which receive only residues 
or manure), beginning in 1910 on Series 200 and in 1911 on Series 100. Subse- 
quent applications are made of 2 tons per acre each four years, beginning in 
1914 on Series 200 and in 1915 on Series 100. As an average of the results from 
both series, the crop values were increased during the third rotation, 1911-1914, 
as follows: 


RESIDUE SystTEM LivE-Stock SYSTEM 
Lower Higher Lower’ Higher 


prices prices prices prices 
Gainwtor. phosphate: ops. cae $18.80 $26.86 $18.96 $27.09 
Gain: for:= imestone snice ce best eee 2.31 3.30 2.55 3.64 


Detailed records of these investigations are given in Tables 12 and 13, the 
data being reported by half-plots after 1910-1911. (Series 300 and 400, which 
are also used in this rotation, are located in part upon black clay loam and a 
heavy phase of brown silt loam.) 


‘During the first four years Series 100 received only 1,500 pounds per acre of phosphate, 
and both series received also 1% ton per acre of limestone, the effect of which probably would 
be slight, as may be judged from the data secured later and reported herein. 


1916] WINNEBAGO COUNTY 29 


RESULTS OF EXPERIMENTS ON BLOOMINGTON FIELD 


Space is taken to insert Tables 14 and 15, giving all the results thus far 
obtained from the Bloomington soil experiment field, which is located on the 
typical brown silt loam prairie soil of the Illinois corn belt. 

It should be stated that a draw runs near Plot 110 on the Bloomington field, 
that the crops on that plot are sometimes damaged by overflow or imperfect 
drainage, and that Plot 101 occupies the lowest ground on the opposite side of 
the field. In part because of these irregularities and in part because only one 
small application has been made, no conclusions can be drawn in regard to lime. 
Otherwise all results reported in Table 14 are considered reliable. 

Nitrogen was applied to the residue plots of this field (except Plot 110), in 
commercial form only, from 1902 to 1905; but clover was grown in 1906 and 
1910, and a cover crop of cowpeas after the clover in 1906. The cowpeas were 
plowed under on all plots, and the 1910 clover, except the seed, was plowed 
under on the five residue plots. Straw and corn stalks have been returned to 
these plots, beginning with 1908. The effect of returning these residues to the 
soil has been appreciable since 1908 (an average increase on Plots 106 and 109 
of 5.5 bushels of oats, 4.5 bushels of wheat, and 5.4 bushels of corn) and probably 
will be more marked on subsequent crops. Indeed, the large crops of corn, oats, 
and wheat grown on Plots 104 and 108 during the thirteen years have drawn 
their nitrogen very largely from the natural supply in the organic matter of 
the soil, for the roots and stubble of clover contain no more nitrogen than the 
entire plant takes from the soil alone, but they decay rapidly in contact with 
the soil and probably hasten the decomposition of the soil humus and the con- 
sequent liberation of the soil nitrogen. But of course there is a limit to the 
reserve stock of humus and nitrogen remaining in the soil, and the future years 
will undoubtedly witness a gradually increasing difference between Plots 104 
and 106, and between Plots 108 and 109, in the yields of grain crops. 

The addition of the element phosphorus has produced very marked increases, 
the average yearly increase being worth $7.68 an acre. This is $5.18 above the 
cost of the phosphorus in 200 pounds of steamed bone meal, the form in which 
it is applied. 

From the soil of the best treated plots on the Bloomington field, 180 pounds 
per acre of phosphorus, as an average, has been removed in the thirteen crops. 
This is equal to 15 percent of the total phosphorus contained in the surface soil 
of an acre of the untreated land. In other words, if such crops could be grown 
for eighty years, they would require as much phosphorus as now constitutes the 
total supply in the ordinary plowed soil. The results plainly show, however, 
that without the addition of phosphorus such crops cannot be grown year after 
year. Where no phosphorus has been applied, the crops have removed only 120 
pounds of phosphorus in the thirteen years, which is equivalent to only 10 per- 
cent of the total amount (1,200 pounds) present in the surface soil at the be- 
ginning of the experiment in 1902. The total phosphorus applied from 1902 
to 1914, as an average of all plots where it has been used, has amounted to 325 
pounds per acre and has cost $32.50.1 This has paid back $97.20, as an average 


*This is based on $25 a ton for steamed bone meal, but in recent years the price has been 
advanced, as a rule, to nearly $30. 


[ January, 


Sor Report No. 12 


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a1d1,J NOLONIWOOTG ‘SENAWIUTIXY TIOG NI SATAIX dOUQ—FL AVA 


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Gite 0 OLE | 9'C | 28 | LT | oe- | got-| LIT | 93t| oF | ws [ott ttt *snazoqdsogd 1040 snsoqdsoqd ‘sonptser 10,4 
a UZ 6'6 g*— CT’ ¢°g— 6° OT i= $P yap 6'e- ik iy MR IAN ONE JOE We ESO Tyr yee tsi aE 10,7 
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T'e9 | 6h | SEL | OFS | LIE | GES | SLS | FI8| 98s | SLE | SOL | BL) TOG | tts umisseqod ‘snsoqdsoqd ‘eumry) got 
Gre | Gre | 68S | g1s | (se) | TTS | OTs | e49 | TS" S655) F909 | 6'SSanP OF ee "sressss-umnissejod ,‘senptser “oury| LOT 
39 | FOS | T'98 | 309 | (49T) | Ges | ssh | o8L | Ce) GUStaie 8 S855 0 FLAG ChAlc gene > ameaieee ees snioydsogd ,‘senptser “ewry| 90T 
SSE | Te | 84g | LTS | 9ST | Ssh | soe | TF9 |] TS BSS a IGS CO TIAP Ge Lalla man eee eae SS ee ee yan VID TeEBI Od S OUT ECD, 
OSE Ven Sin eOcey slope S69 Avo: 2ho(: 128. | Sco Tcl! S68 rk Ck | ORL | UTP eo oe eee ee ee SO ee a 
g'oe | sue | g'z9 | 9'c2_| (es' ) | rer | o'9e | e'F9 | OF g:08. +969 | 8°69 [eT'gg [oe te ae oh ae sonpiser dor fourteen T= 
9°0F | OOS | 6 LF | SS | GOT | 9'ES | ESE | T’e9 | 8s" B'S 1B '09 15 C509 Vk O26 ae eae ee aan ee "7° OUNrT] ZOT 
geal ze twee | Geez | set | ¢or-| wor | 00 | ee" S Demi Rse. Lianne neki <a eee eae eee seseeeseeeeessouonl TOT 
e198 red suo} 10 sjeysng 
pordde qyuourjyeer} [tog 101d 
FIGT | SI6L | SI6T | TT6T | OTGT | 606T | 806T | L06T | QO6T | SO6T | FOGT | EO6T | ZOET 
8y8Q | ULOF) | ULOF) | FEOTM | LOAOTO | 8}#BO | UIOH | WIOD TOAOTH | BOM | $IBO | ULOH | LO 


1916] WINNEBAGO COUNTY 


TABLE 15.—VALUE OF CROPS PER ACRE IN THIRTEEN YEARS, BLOOMINGTON FIELD 
Brown Sitt LOAM PRAIRIE; EARLY WISCONSIN GLACIATION 


oF 


Total value of 
thirteen crops 


Plot Soil treatment applied Lower | Higher 
prices prices 

TU PRT NOG es Weteictmesey otae Fuss ce A Ste a OR a $186.83 | $266.90 
treme LLIN C WeermenePee ree Cro eTauseer ati a CRhe a stata oc) or «furiiarrha shasta evdteveusleeeeie reads 186.76 | 266.80 
103 |Lime, residues... .. ‘OR RE IE Sei steel (ea | enn in eat te 193.83 | 276.90 
TYREE CHING ¢ POE DMOLUS Yl WarePul sre cir, cheney sont aos: Say Se a Ae eaves [ae ois owe ale 286.61 | 409.45 
ao mer LaLnl ome (HO LADS BUTE nese: siaiebers) st ttasck aie © ass aioret sl aries wie eee. Uperaietel arse. wamrens 190.53 | 272.19 
HOGmianes es CSTUNEE TD UOSD IONS ei. «lee clcre' ele pie eas atte ctelais orale ac aterape aneeshe 285.03 | 407.19 
Gree eG ma PORE UON POLASSIUIN c. are > sere gee taca visto kate, ooaseie rete cues Some 191.10 273.00 
em) lamio. DAOSDNOTUS., POLASSIUIN eco cete «karti wine ce eee ave te sere tare © 294.91 | 421.31 
109) Lame, srestdues, phosphorus, potassium iets «cn eae ca sete eine 284.47 | 406.39 
Ute MOsLoues 2 PMOSHUOTUS, © DOLASSIUIM Ss", ali. 'g ota ee ti coate os esta ane fie wee ot 259.10 370.15 

Value of Increase per Acre in Thirteen Years 

ICIS EE OR ASB ls BEDE ANE ofa ety > abe OP cee arte Ree pan an $ 7.07 | $ 10.10 
TOT DROGD MOTUS clades! cups Pe riste etterste scat <b lanais ASS He he eR ere 99.85 142.65 
For residues.and phosphorus over phosphorus.............s.e2c+++eeee> —1.58 —2.26 
For phosphorus and residues: over residues... ......600e8seeces eee eeees 91.20 130.29 
For potassium, residues, and phosphorus over residues and phosphorus.... —.56 | —.80 


of four trials, or 300 percent on the investment; whereas potassium, used in 
the same number of tests and at the same cost, has paid back only $2.20 per 


acre in the thirteen years, or less than 7 percent of its cost. Are not these 


ECs 


sults to be expected from the composition of such soil and the requirements of 


erops? 
THE SUBSURFACE AND SUBSOIL 


| In Tables 16 and 17 are recorded the amounts of plant food in the subsurface 
and the subsoil of the different types of soil in Winnebago county, but it should 
be remembered that these supplies are of little value unless the top soil is kept 
rich. Probably the most important information contained in these tables is that 
the most common upland soils are from slightly to strongly acid in the sub- 


surface, and often more strongly acid in the subsoil. This fact emphasizes 


TABLE 16.—FERTILITY IN THE SOILS OF WINNEBAGO CouUNTY, ILLINOIS 
Average pounds per acre in 4 million pounds of subsurface (about 6%% to 20 inches) 


the 


Soil Total | Total |Total | Total | Total | m4.) | Lime Soil 
type Soil type organic| nitro- | phos- | potas- magne- einen stone | acidity 
No. | carbon | gen jphorus| sium | sium | present | present 
Upland Prairie Soils 
a Brown silt loam..... 51 560| 4 720) 1 980)72 500/21 380) 17 430 450 
626.5 ) Brown silt loam on . 
726.5 LOCK ats ele deni ae oon: 46 920) 4 720| 1 560)65 520\17 880} 13 000 240 
eat Black clay loam..... 76 360; 5 640) 2 7206s 760/33 800) 41 720} 3 000) 
2 
ae | Brown-gray silt loam 
1528 | on tight clay.....: 27 220) 2 960/ 1 340/70 600/22 120} 17 400 1 180 
660 
760 ¢ Brown sandy loam...| 45 960| 4 020|1 360|63 040|13 090| 10 500! 850 
760.5 |Brown sandy loam on 
BOCK ee stots cr elrire 70 750| 6 510) 2 190|51 230/17 520} 16 570 Rarely | Often 
Ipei te Dntepean dene css 15 920) 980] 1 180)28 940] 2 780] 3 520 600 


32 Som Report No. 12 [ January, 
TABLE 16.—Continued 
Soil Total | Total |Total | Total | Total |...) | Lime- | Soil 
type Soil type organic; nitro- | phos- | potas- magne- sh stone | acidity 
No. | earbon | gen |phorus| sium | sium |°#CiUM| } resent! present 
Upland Timber Soils 
shes | |vellow-gray silt loam.| 16 230| 2 220| 1 820|74 15020 420| 16 030 990 
v3e ( |Yellow silt loam... 30 000) 2 980|2 180/70 420/22 900) 16 700 1 000 
635.5 |Yellow silt loam on 
2 PE OCKiee as Be meaetate Sven 44 840) 4 510) 2 190\70 960/25 150, 20 350) Rarely | Often 
632 Light gray silt loam | 
on tight clay......| 18 240; 2 440}/1 760/73 200|14 480 12 720 1 360 
764 Yellow-gray sandy | 
l6gin tee sete ee 13 530) 1 300; 980|50 300|10 210 8 570 160 
764.5 |Yellow-gray sandy : 
loam: On TOCK neo 26 120) 2 520) 1 200/48 000|27 160, 31 800/117 520 
mae | [Yellow sandy loam...| 19 560| 1 720/1 120|71 880/14 520 12 640 80 
765.5 |Yellow sandy loam on | 
TOCKE Wa ees = 15 640} 1 360; 1 040/44 000/16 600) 11 160) 22 640 
sy Gravelly loam ....... | 46 440) 4 000) 2 760|55 600|50 720) 80 360 265 560 
; : Terrace Soils . 
1520 ede clay loam Jx.-. 5. 118 960| 9 880| 3 280/68 640\/24 520) 37 120) 40 
1526 Brown silt loam.....| 85 920| 6 800| 2 680/64 560|24 160| 25 640 520 
1527 Brown sult loam over 
PTAVOlE eee ae ee 58 720) 5 120/2 880\71 880/17 520] 14 160 240 
sia Brown-gray silt loam 
728 on tight clay...... 27 220 960} 1 340/70 606/22 120] 17 400 1 180 
1532 Light gray silt loam. .| 15 920 720) 1 920\76 400)22 280} 18 720 2 800 
1536 Yellow-gray silt loam | 
over gravel. ....5.% 12 840} 2 040| 1 920/76 040/17 280 20 120! 160 
1560.3 |Brown sandy loam on | 
GPAVGLIES. ais sees eee 52 840; 4 720! 1 800/52 960/15 880 12 360) 160 
1564 Yellow-gray sandy 
LOAM cys ahere Seas 16 880} 1 6001 400/48 640)11 720. 9 $60 240 
1566 Brown sandy loam 
over gravel ....... 28 330! 2 390; 1 400/36 920! 8 880 440 150 
t7ei t. (Dune sand :).i../..: 15 920] 980) 1 180|23 940| 2 780 3 520 600 
sti Gravelly loam ....... 46 440! 4 000|2 760/55 peyote 720 80 360/265 560 
na Late Swamp and Bottom-Land Soils 
1401. - iDeepspeatte Stes ae 806 440/64 140|2 900) 7 880/13 040) 51 320 220 
1402 Medium peat? on clay. |528 900/43 840) 5 100|11 580/14 780| 85 220) 43 460 
1402.2 |Medium peat? on sand|230 960/19 020} 1 540/23 140| 6 560| 26 840] 2 360 
1403 Shallow peat on clay. |493 280/39 520| 4 640/49 000|27 240] 63 880 160 
1410.2 |Peaty loam on sand../ 38 280} 3 800|1 440/41 400/13 120) 16 800] 4 920 
1450 Black mixed loam....| 70 320| 8 040| 3 320/62 360/49 800|107 960/276 720 
1454 Mixed loam (bottom 
arid ) cgace Vaio eas 70 000] 6 920| 2 600/64 520/22 200! 31 600 80 


Composition reported for 2 million pounds. 


importance of having plenty of limestone in the surface soil to neutralize the 
acid moisture which rises from the lower strata by capillary action during times 
of partial drouth, which are critical periods in the life of such plants as clover. 
While the common brown silt loam prairie is usually slightly acid, the upland 
timber soils are, as a rule, more distinctly in need of limestone, and as shown 
in Table 2, they are also more deficient in organic matter and nitrogen than the 
prairie soils, and therefore more in need of growing clover. 


*Composition reported for 3 million pounds. 


1916} WINNEBAGO COUNTY 33 
TABLE 17.,—FERTILITY IN THE SOILS OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY, ILLINOIS 
Average pounds per acre in 6 million pounds of subsoil (about 20 to 40 inches) 
Soil Total | Total )Total | Total | Total | m4.) | Lime- | Soil 
type Soil type organic| nitro- | phos- | potas- |magne- aici stone {acidity 
No. carbon | gen jphorus| sium | sium : present |present 
Upland Prairie Soils 
626 : ats 
726 Brown silt loam..... 30 470| 3 050) 3 020|105 310 47 750} 40 600)Rarely | Often 
620 
720 Black clay loam..... 43 260! 3 an 4 380/110 100) 71 340) 95 040/\198 000 
628 | . 
728 Brown-gray silt loam 
1528 On taht: Clay... 3 21 540| 2 910|/3 060/106 650) 43 200| 36 630 180 
bane Brown sandy loam...| 31 070| 3 140/1 950] 91 740| 30 810| 28 070/Often | Often 
760.5 |Brown sandy loam on | 
a BOG Ry tah ie te leneinde a oe 47 580| 5 370|3 300) 65 460| 37 560| 32 160\Often Often 
1581 DINE Sad ca st aele 17 910} 1 020/1 410] 35 910| 4 860| 6 540 1 230 
Upland Timber Soils 
eet Yellow-gray silt loam.| 14 160| 2 290) 3 580/103 250! 40 870! 28 120 4 780 
van + [Yellow silt loam..... 23 670) 3 030'5 850|105 240) 58 740| 67 590/172 290 
632 Light gray silt loam 
on tight clay...... 15 000} 2 400) 3 660/105 900; 33 180) 23 040 7 380 
764 Yellow-gray sandy 
OATS Sat tks Cains 13 190} 1 4380/1 640| 79 910) 19 740; 15 690|Rarely | Often 
a | |¥ellow sandy loam...] 19 260) 2 160) 1 980|101 040/127 260/233 400,922 080 
| Terrace Soils 
1520 Black clay loam..... 67 260| 5 100|3 900/107 520) 39 360] 52 620| 60 
1526 Brown silt loam..... 40 140) 3 180) 2 340; 83 100) 26 400) 24 780 300 
1527 Brown silt loam over | | 
OPA vel ea cet nS stene 26 100) 2 640/3 720; 92 640; 29 460) 19 200) 960 
1528 B ; 
628 rown-gray silt loam | 
728 Onuiieht clay so... as 21 540; 2 910/3 060|106 650} 43 200} 36 630 180 
1532 Light gray silt loam.| 14 400) 2 040) 3 900/110 820| 35 640) 34 020 15 600 
1536 Yellow-gray silt loam | 
. OVOTHOTAVel in. ie «2 9 060; 2 280) 4 860/110 280) 33 120; 31 560 1 320 
1560.3 |Brown sandy loam on | 
STA VG tenet, ser ain ataata: s 44 400) 4 020/1 980| 73 200} 24 420] 16 860 300 
1564 Yellow-gray sandy 
TOME caliph aceon k ns 14 040) 1 380) 1 740) 58 440} 20 160; 13 620 1 380 
1566 Brown sandy loam : 
over gravel ....... 19 160) 1 700} 1 600] 53 940; 14 760| 12 500 320 
Reiley Decovsand ec, «a. 17 910 1 020)1 410] 35 910] 4 860) 6 540 1 230 
Late Swamp and Bottom-Land Soils 
1401 Dee peat searing ess 149 850|11 910| 1 590! 38 700| 26 280) 32 190 30 
1402 Medium peat on clay.| 57 540| 3 840) 3 360; 98 280} 52 800| 71 340| 7 800 
1402.2 |Medium peat on sand| 12 480} 2 520] 1 380| 69 420} 94 020/156 480\676 800 
1403 Shallow peat on clay.| 42 720] 3 960|3 420} 98 160) 41 700| 52 680 60 
1410.2 |Peaty loam on sand..| 14 520| 1 200| 2 040| 72 540/102 000|171 120,694 980 
1450 Black mixed loam....| 26 220| 3 060|3 900] 96 660| 94 020/148 380/502 020 
1454 Mixed loam (bottom | 
PAG PA ACE lia hie g 65 130| 6 480) 3 900/103 650| 39 660| 48 750\/Often | Often 


34 Som Report No. 12 [January, 


INDIVIDUAL SOIL TYPES 
(a) UPLAND PRAIRIE SOILS 


The upland prairie soils of Winnebago county comprize 221.10 square miles, 
or 42.9 percent of the area of the county. They are usually quite dark in color 
owing to their large organic-matter content, which has been derived from 
the roots of prairie grasses that once covered these areas. The complete decay 
of these roots was prevented by the moisture of the soil, so that this partially 
decayed organic matter accumulated in sufficient quantities to give the soil its 
peculiar brown color. 

The soils of the more rolling areas are lighter in color, because of their 
lower organic-matter content, due to the less luxuriant growth of vegetation and 
the more favorable conditions for oxidation; while the soils occupying the less 
rolling and comparatively level areas are darker, owing to the more favorable 
conditions that existed there for the growth and preservation of organic matter. 


Brown Silt Loam (626 and 726) 


Brown silt loam is the most extensive soil type in Winnebago county. It 
covers an area of 110.08 square miles (70,451 acres), or 21.85 percent of the 
area of the county. It is found thruout the county, but the largest area is 
located in the southwest part of the pre-Iowan glaciation. The other area in this 
glaciation, in the northwest part of the county, is made up of many small 
and irregular tracts, a great deal of which is rolling and quite shallow, and 
some of which shows evidence of former forests. In the Iowan glaciation are 
included many irregular areas somewhat broken by depositions of sand or the 
invasion of forests. The largest area in the Iowan glaciation, altho not continu- 
ous, occurs east of Rockford and north of Cherry Valley. 

The topography of the brown silt loam varies quite widely. Comparatively 
few level areas exist in the county. The area north of the Pecatonica river is 
generally very rolling, approaching hilly; while the large area in the south- 
western part of the county is undulating, except at the heads of many of the 
streams, where the type assumes a very rolling character. The areas east of the 
Rock river and those north and northwest of Rockford partake of this same roll- 
ing topography. In many instances care must be taken to prevent serious wash- 
ing. This type generally possesses very fair surface serie or so that no large 
amount of it is tile-drained. 

In physical composition this type in Winnebago county differs from the 
corresponding type in other glaciations in its larger sand content. Nearly all 
the type in this county contains a very perceptible amount of sand (from 25 to 
40 percent), either medium or fine, so that it approaches closely to a sandy 
silt loam. It normally contains from 50 to 70 percent of the different grades 
of silt and from 10 to 15 percent of clay. It sometimes grades imperceptibly 
into a fine sandy loam, and the fact that the sand varies so much in fineness 
makes extremely difficult a satisfactory separation of the brown silt loam and 
the brown sandy loam. A further variation in many areas is caused by the 
spread of timber over that part bordering the forests. White oak and hickory 
rarely ever grow on this type, but bur oak, wild cherry, elm, and black walnut, 


1916] WINNEBAGO COUNTY 35 


which are the first to invade the prairie, are quite common. Their growth gradu- 
ally modifies the soil by lowering the organic-matter content, thus causing 
the type to pass into yellow-gray silt loam. 

The surface soil, 0 to 67% inches, is a brown silt loam varying in color from 
a brownish yellow on the more rolling areas to a dark brown or almost black 
on the more nearly level and poorly drained tracts. The amount of organic 
matter varies from 3.5 to 5.4 percent, with an average of 4.3 percent or 43 
tons per acre. Where the type passes into yellow-gray silt loam (634 and 734), 
the organic-matter content becomes reduced, and where it passes into black clay 
loam (620) or black mixed loam (1450), it increases. In the Iowan glaciation, 
especially, and to some extent in the pre-Iowan, small areas of gravelly or 
sandy loam exist that are too small to be mapped. Small areas of yellow-gray 
silt loam that have been produced either by the presence of trees or by the 
removal by erosion of part of the surface soil are common in some areas of 
brown silt loam. 

The subsurface varies from 4 to 10 inches in thickness, owing to changing 
topography, the stratum being thinner on the more rolling areas and thicker 
on the level areas. In physical composition it varies in the same way as the 
surface soil, but it usually contains a slightly larger percentage of clay and 
about one-half the percentage of organic matter. In the latter constituent it 
varies from 1.9 to 3.1 percent, with an average of 2.2 percent, or 44 tons 
per acre. 

The natural subsoil begins 12 to 18 inches beneath the surface and extends 
to an indefinite depth but is sampled between 20 and 40 inches. It varies from 
a yellow to a drabbish yellow, slightly clayey silt, with the deeper subsoil 
more silty in the pre-Iowan glaciation. It contains a variable amount of sand. 
The drabbish colored subsoil is found only in the lower, poorly drained areas. 
In some eases the boulder clay, or drift, constitutes part of the sample. This 
is especially true in the Iowan glaciation. In the large area in the southwestern 
part of the county, drift is rarely encountered above 40 inches, and the subsoil 
consists of a yellow mealy silt containing a considerable percentage of very 
fine sand. 

The subsoil is usually pervious to water, permitting good under-drainage, 
but where this type grades toward brown-gray silt loam on tight clay (628 or 
728), a phase is found that is somewhat difficult to drain. 

While this type is in fair physical condition, yet over-cropping to corn 
and oats and the removal of the stalks and straw, without clover being grown 
very often, is likely to destroy the tilth. The soil becomes more difficult to work, 
it runs together more, and aeration, granulation, and absorption of moisture 
do not take place as readily as formerly. This condition of poor tilth may 
become one of the limiting factors in crop yields if such methods of management 
continue. | 

For the improvement of this soil, organic manures are of first: importance. 
These may be either animal manures or legume crops and crop residues, or 
some combination of these. As neither the surface nor the subsurface contains 
limestone, and usually the subsoil also is sour, liberal use of ground limestone 
is a necessary part of permanent soil improvement. Because of the relatively 
high content of sand, and the consequent porosity of the soil and the deep 


36 Sort Report No. 12 [ January, 


feeding range afforded plant roots, the addition of phosphorus is of much less 
immediate importance on this type of brown silt loam than on the brown silt loam 
of other areas, tho it will ultimately need to be applied and already produces ap- 
preciable increases in crop yields. (See Tables 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8 for results of 
field experiments on this soil type.) 


Brown Silt Loam on Rock (626.5) , 


Brown silt loam on rock covers only a very small area, in the upper 
Illinoisan glaciation. The total area is only .1 of a square mile, or 64 acres. — 

The surface soil, 0 to 624 inches, is a brown silt loam differing but little 
from the ordinary type (626). It contains 3.76 percent of organic matter, or 
37 tons per acre. | 

The subsurface is of a lighter brownish color, becoming yellow at about. 
12 inches. - 

The natural subsoil extends to rock, which occurs at a depth of 16 to 30 
inches. It is of a yellowish color with some reddish clay resting on the rock. 

The supply of nitrogen and phosphorus in this type of brown silt loam is 
somewhat less than in the ordinary type. The same methods for improvement 
are recommended. Crops suffer more from drouth when the bed rock is firm and 
near the surface. . 

Black Clay Loam (620 and 720) 


Black clay loam represents, in part, the originally swampy and poorly 
drained land of Winnebago county. It is frequently called ‘‘gumbo’’ because 
of its sticky character. Its formation in the low areas is due to the large aceumu- 
lation of organic matter and to the washing in of clay and fine silt from the 
higher adjoining lands. This type covers only 1.08 square miles (691.2 acres), 
or .21 percent of the area of the county. 

The surface soil, 0 to 624 inches, is a black, plastic, very granular, clay 
loam, containing about 10 percent of organic matter, or 100 tons per acre. 
The more luxuriant growth of prairie grasses that once covered the swampy 
black clay loam areas, and the partial preservation of their roots by the wet 
condition of the soil, has resulted in a greater accumulation of organic matter 
in this type than in the other types of the upland prairie soils. Some sand 
and gravel is usually present. 

The surface soil is naturally quite granular. This property of granulation 
is important to all soils, but especially so to heavy ones, for by it the soil is 
kept in good tilth and rendered pervious to air and water. If the granules 
are destroyed by puddling, as they may be if the soil is worked or stock are 
allowed to trample on it while it is wet, they may be formed again by tempera- 
ture changes (freezing and thawing) or by moisture changes (wetting and 
drying). These natural agencies produce ‘‘slaking,’’ as the process is usually 
termed. If, however, the organic-matter or the lime content becomes low, this 
tendency to granulate grows less and the soil becomes more difficult to work, 
as well as less pervious to air and water. 

The subsurface extends to a depth of 11 to 18 inches. It differs.from the 
surface in‘ color, becoming lighter with depth, the lower part passing into a 
drab or yellowish drab clayey silt. It is quite pervious to water owing to the 


1916] WINNEBAGO COUNTY 37 


jointing or checking produced in times of drouth. The organic-matter content 
is 3.3 percent, or 66 tons per acre. 

The subsoil is usually a drab or yellowish drab clayey silt and frequently 
contains limestone pebbles. Because of poor drainage, the iron in the subsoil 
is not highly oxidized as a rule. This stratum is also readily permeable to 
water and air because of the jointing produced by shrinkage. 

Black clay loam, while covering only a small area, presents a number of 
variations that cause it to grade toward other types. With an increase of 
organic matter, it grades toward muck and peat, small patches of which are 
found in areas of black clay loam. Sandy spots are found that give a sandy 
phase of the type or even change the type to a black sandy loam. Besides 
these variations, alkali spots are common whose presence is indicated by an 
abundance of fragments of shells, a whitish crust on the surface of the soil, 
or the yellowish or brownish color of the growing corn, which may be damaged 
or destroyed by too much alkali. 

Drainage is the first requirement of this type, and if the outlet is sufficient, 
tile drainage is most satisfactory because of the perviousness of the soil. One 
of the essentials in the management of the type is to keep it in good physical 
condition, and thoro drainage is a very important factor in this. In the pro- 
duction of granulation, wetting and drying is one of the most important 
factors. If the soil is saturated most of the time, but little effect is produced. 
Freezing and thawing do very little in effecting granulation in a saturated soil. 

After drainage, the maintenance of organic matter is the principal problem 
in the management of this type. This may be easily accomplished by turning 
under crop residues with other forms of organic matter that may be applied 
to the land. The shrinkage of heavy soils rich in organic matter frequently 
becomes a very serious problem. Cracks two or three inches in width are 
formed which allow the soil strata to dry out rapidly, and as a result the crop 
may be injured thru lack of moisture. These cracks may also do considerable 
damage by severing the roots of growing crops. While cracking may not be 
prevented entirely, yet good tilth, which enables the production of a soil mulch, 
will do much toward that end. 

Black clay loam is rich in all important elements of plant food and also 
eontains limestone. With thoro drainage and a good rotation of crops, it is 
a very productive soil. The phosphorus content, however, is no higher than 
necessary for the best results, and with continued farming provision should be 
made to at. least maintain the present supply of phosphorus and to insure an 
adequate supply of active organic matter. 


Brown-Gray Silt Loam on Tight Clay (628 and 728) 


Brown-gray silt loam on tight clay is found principally in the western 
part of Winnebago county in the pre-Iowan glaciation. It comprizes 1.19 square 
miles (762 acres), or .23 percent of the total area of the county. It occurs prin- 
cipally at the foot of slopes, where there is apparently some seepage that has 
been instrumental in producing the type. 

The surface soil, 0 to 624 inches, is a brown silt loam varying in color from 
a light to a dark brown. It contains some fine sand, which gives it an excellent 
texture. The organic-matter content is 4.3 percent, or 43 tons per acre. 


38 Som Report No. 12 [ January, 


The subsurface soil is represented by a stratum 4 to 8 inches in thickness. 
It varies with depth from a brown to a light gray, and contains 1.3 percent of 
organic matter. The rapid decrease in organic matter with depth is character- 
istic of this type. 

The natural subsoil begins at a depth of 10 to 14 inches as a yellowish 
or grayish yellow, compact, plastic, clayey silt or silty clay, containing iron 
blotches and a few iron concretions. Below 36 inches the subsoil becomes much 
less compact and more previous. | 

This type is flat, and much of it needs drainage. Owing to the less pervious 
character of the subsoil, it is in greater need of tile drainage than the brown 
silt loam, and the lines of tile should be placed nearer to each other than is 
usual with most soil types. For effective drainage, they should not be over 
five rods apart, and four rods is better. 

For the improvement of this soil, ground limestone should be used liberally 
to neutralize existing acidity and provide for crop requirements and loss by 
leaching. Deep-rooting legume crops, such as red, mammoth, or sweet clover, 
should be grown in order to loosen up in a measure the tight clay subsoil and 
promote drainage and aeration, and also to secure nitrogen and help maintain 
the supply of organic matter. Phosphorus is also required for best results, 
and, because of the more compact nature of the soil, it is likely to produce more 
marked benefit on this type than on the brown silt loam. 


Brown Sandy Loam (660 and 760) 


Brown sandy loam is next to brown silt loam in area in Winnebago county. 
It covers 98.5 square miles (63,040 acres), or 19.1 percent of the area of 
the county. It occurs almost entirely in the Iowan glaciation. In topography 
it varies from slightly undulating to rolling, but it is not sufficiently rolling 
to erode badly. 

The surface soil, 0 to 624 inches, is a brown sandy loam varying in color 
from dark or almost black to a brownish yellow, in texture from a fine to a 
coarse sandy loam, and in amount of sand from a loam to a light sandy loam. 
The gradation between this type and the brown silt loam (726) makes the sepa- 
ration of the two rather difficult. The organic-matter content varies from 2.4 
to 3.4 percent, with an average of 2.8 percent or 28 tons per acre. 

The subsurface is a brown sandy loam changing to a yellowish silty sand 
or sandy silt at a depth of about 14 to 16 inches. The sand content varies; it 
is less, as a rule, on the more rolling areas and greater on the undulating or 
more level areas. This stratum contains 2 percent of organic matter, or 40 
tons per acre. 

The subsoil varies almost indefinitely. In many places it consists of a 
medium to coarse sand, in others a sandy silt, while in still others glacial drift 
is found at a depth of 20 to 30 inches. This stratum, especially when com- 
posed of drift, may contain considerable amounts of reddish or brownish red 
clay, very plastic and possibly derived from the residue left after the limestone 
of the drift had been dissolved and washed away. An attempt was made ‘to 
divide this type on the basis of the subsoil, but its great variation made this 


impossible. 


1916} WINNEBAGO COUNTY 39 


In the treatment of brown sandy loam, the organic-matter content should 
be maintained in every practical way. The sandier phase of the type is likely 
to suffer from blowing by dry winds, and for that reason fall plowing is ob- 
jectionable. Some areas require drainage, as in the case of brown silt loam. 
The pervious character of the subsoil makes it a type that drains very easily. 

Ground limestone and organic manures are of the greatest importance for 
the improvement of this soil. While the total supply of phosphorus is much 
less than in the brown silt loam, the porous character of the subsurface and 
subsoil and the deep feeding range afforded plant roots are likely to more than 
counterbalance this lack, so that the addition of phosphorus is not advised 
except where other limitations have been removed by the means suggested above. 


Brown Sandy Loam on Rock (760.5) 


Brown sandy loam on rock comprizes 7.10 square miles (4,544 acres), or 
1.38 percent of the total area of Winnebago county. It occurs in comparatively 
small areas, but is found principally on the south side of the Pecatonica river. 
These areas are dotted with small patches of gravelly and stony loam too small 
to be represented on the map. In topography this type varies from slightly 
undulating to rather rolling, and with this variation occurs quite a variation 
in the character of the soil, due principally to the varying depth of the rock 
beneath the surface. Where the rock comes within 20 inches of the surface, 
the producing power of the type becomes quite low, but fortunately in most 
of the type the rock is deeper than this, and in many eases instead of being 
solid rock it consists of small boulders a few inches in diameter. 

The surface soil, 0 to 624 inches, is a brown sandy loam containing 4.1 
percent of organic matter, or 41 tons per acre. It varies in physical composition 
- from an ordinary loam to a very sandy loam. In many places gravel occurs 
in the surface stratum, and many small areas of gravelly loam and even stony 
loam occur, some of which are indicated on the map by small circles. Small 
areas of rock outcrop are also quite common. Fine wash from the higher land 
frequently has produced small areas of brown silt loam that are sometimes too 
small to map. 

The subsurface is a brown sandy loam containing 3.5 percent of organic 
matter. The same variations occur in the subsurface as are found in the surface 
stratum. The thickness of the subsoil varies with the depth to rock. In some 
cases, just above the rock, a stratum of dolomitic sand is found which has 
resulted from the disintegration of the underlying limestone. In other cases a 
plastic, reddish clay containing gravel occurs. 

This type of soil does not, as a rule, resist drouth very well because of the 
nearness of the rock to the surface. During seasons favored with a large number 
of showers while the crops are growing, fair yields are produced. The same 
methods for improvement should be followed as are recommended for the normal 
phase of brown sandy loam. 


Dune Sand (781) 


Dune sand occurs very largely in the northern part of Winnebago county 
west of the Rock river and east of the Sugar river. The part east of Coon creek is 
terrace, while that west of the creek is upland of the Iowan glaciation. Another 


40 Sort Report No. 12 [ January, 


area of upland sand dunes occurs in the southern part of the county in Sections 
20, 29, and 30, Township 43 North, Range I East. A few small isolated areas 
are found in other parts. The topography is typical of sand dunes, varying from 
slightly undulating to rolling. The latter is the most abundant. The total 
area of this type is 3.05 square miles (1,952 acres), or .6 percent of the area of 
the county. 

The surface soil, 0 to 6%4 inches, consists of a slightly loamy sand varying 
somewhat in composition, principally in the fineness of the sand. The organic- 
matter content is about 1.1 percent. 

The subsurface is a yellow sand varying from medium to coarse in texture. 

The subsoil consists of a rather uniform yellow sand of medium texture. 

In the management of this type, three things are necessary: first, the 
prevention of blowing; second, the correction of acidity; and third, the increase 
of nitrogen and organic matter. To prevent the movement of the soil by wind 
action, some special means should be employed, especially on the more sandy 
areas. Otherwise, ruin of the land will ultimately result. To hold the soil 
an application of some form of organic matter should be made. The common 
erop grown on sand soil is rye. This does not sufficiently cover the soil to 
protect it from blowing. Furthermore, it is a common practice to sell the straw 
as well as the grain, and this leaves very little organic matter to be turned 
back into the soil. A practice that could be followed to good advantage in 
favorable seasons would be to sow cowpeas after the rye, following the binder 
with the drill, and then later drilling the rye in the cowpeas without cutting 
them or turning them under. This would serve to protect the soil from blow- 
ing, as well as furnish a supply of nitrogen and organic matter to the soil, and 
would undoubtedly result in the improvement of this type. If care is taken, 
alfalfa may be grown without a great deal of difficulty after it is once started. 
In order to secure a good stand it would be necessary to apply limestone as 
well as a moderate amount of manure, or to turn under a legume crop, such 
as cowpeas. The fact that roots have such a deep feeding range in this type 
makes it generally unnecessary to supply phosphorus, which is largely accessible 
to the plants. 

When potash salts can be secured at reasonable cost, their use is likely to 
produce profitable results, at least temporarily, in getting under way systems 
of permanent improvement. This applies more especially to the level areas 
that were originally sandy swamps. While the type contains a fair amount 
of potassium, much of this is locked up in sand grains, and where long exposed 
to leaching, as in swampy areas, the potassium still remaining in the sand is 
almost inaccessible to plant roots. 

For six years experiments were conducted on sand ridge soil on the experi- 
ment field near Green Valley, Tazewell county. The soil varies from a very 
sandy loam to a slightly loamy sand that is easily drifted by the wind when 
not protected by vegetation. This field was broken out of pasture in 1902. In 
Table 18 are reported all results secured in the six years from that part of the 
Green Valley field where nitrogen as well as other elements were supplied in 
commercial form. | 

Plot 1, especially, and also Plot 2, in this series, were naturally more pro- 
ductive than the other plots, and were therefore selected as the check plots, in 


1916] WINNEBAGO COUNTY 41 


TABLE 18.—Crop YIELDS IN Sori, EXPERIMENTS, GREEN VALLEY FIELD 


: 4 Corn | Corn |} Oats |Wheat|} Corn | Corn 

Sand ridge soil 1902 | 1903 | 1904 | 1905 | 1906) 1907 Value of 6 crops 
Plot Soret ant . Lower | Higher 

oil treatment applied ' Bushels per acre prices | prices 
SOTA NODNO Mes cin tess eheve gM also casa. « siete 68.7 | 56.3 | 49.7 | 18.3 | 32.9 | 35.3 | $94.35 | $134.78 
AEP SW BLATT Meh Ek eRe Oe ee ae ge 68.2 | 42.0 | 35.9 | 19.0 ; 17.8 | 29.5 | 78.48 | 112.11 
403 |Lime, nitrogen .............. 68.6 | 65.4 | 44.4 | 23.5 | 62.9 | 58.9 | 127.74] 182.48 
404 |Lime, phosphorus ............ 30.3 | 24.9 | 20.3 | 16.7 | 10.4 | 13.1 44,92 64.17 
405 /Lime; potassium ......2...2:: 23.1 | 20.1 | 16.9 | 16.5 8.4 | 12.8 | 38.82] 55.46 
406 |Lime, nitrogen, phosphorus. ...| 57.4 | 69.8 | 51.9 | 26.8 | 70.8 | 64.7 | 125.34] 178.91 
407 |Lime, nitrogen, potassium..... 70.0 | 72.9 | 54.7 | 36.5 | 74.8 | 73.6 | 142.82 | 204.03 
408 |Lime, phosphorus, potassium...; 49.8 | 39.6 | 36.9 | 13.7 | 18.3 | 27.7 67.31 96.16 


409 |Lime, nitrogen, phosphorus, 


Average gain for nitrogen........ 23.5 | 37.8 | 22.3 | 14.3 | 


PGtASl Uggs aiay sted. cares 3 69.5 | 69.8 | 47.8 | 36.2 | 66.4 | 73.6 | 136.47 | 194.97 
410 INitrogen, phosphorus, potassium| 57.2 | 66.1 | 50.0 | 26.5 | 66.0 | 71.9 | 123.97 | 177.10 
55.0 | 46.9 73.37 | 104.82 

Average gain for potassium over 
DItFOSeD sare aiatole< seatarei thats a meme elena’ s & 6:8 «1,-3.8 3.1), 112") 3,8: ) 11.8 17.88 25.54 


Average gain for phosphorus over | | 


HURL OM OL suteg ge Che oe Svea eee cg ones AUS pe aed: oon 


te 

On 
| 
ot) 


2.9 22 32 


accordance with the regular custom of the Experiment Station to use the most 
productive land for the untreated check plots if any differences are appar- 
ent when the field is established, as was the case in this instance. Plot 1 serves 
only as a check against the lime treatment; the average of Plots 2, 4, 5, and 8 
gives a more reliable basis of comparison for ascertaining the effect of nitrogen. 
A four-year rotation of corn, corn, oats, and wheat was practiced. 

To facilitate summarizing the results of the six years, the total value of 
the six crops from each plot is shown in the last column, and at the bottom of 
the table are shown the average increases in yield for each year and the total 
value of the six years’ increase: (1) for nitrogen under the four conditions; 
(2) for phosphorus in addition to nitrogen (two tests each year); and (3) for 
potassium in addition to nitrogen (two tests each year). Nitrogen is so clearly 
the limiting element that the only question regarding phosphorus and potassium 
is, Will either of them effect a further increase after nitrogen has been applied? 

As an average of four tests covering six years, the addition of nitrogen to 
this sand soil produced increases valued, at the lower prices, at $73.37 an acre, 
or an average of $12.23 a year. The nitrogen cost $15 a year for 100 pounds 
of the element in dried blood. In one instance the increase produced actually 
exceeded in value the cost of the nitrogen applied, if the cost and effect of the 
potassium be disregarded. Thus, the total value of the six crops from Plot 5, 
treated with lime and potassium, was $38.82, while $142.82 was the correspond- 
ing value of Plot 7, which differed from Plot 5 only by the addition of nitrogen. 
Under these conditions 600 pounds of nitrogen costing only $90 produced an in- 
crease of $104 per acre in six years. 

So far as we have discovered, this is the only instance where the use of 
commercial nitrogen has paid its cost in the production of ordinary farm erops 
in Illinois, and even here we must not overlook the fact that $15 worth of potas- 
sium was associated with $90 worth of nitrogen where this enormous increase 
was produced. While potassium without nitrogen produces no benefit on this 


42 Sor. Report No. 12 [ January, 


sand soil, when applied with nitrogen potassium costing $15 produced an average 
‘increase valued at $13.10 per acre in six years, but in this case the influence and 
cost of the associated nitrogen must not be ignored. In no ease did the total in- 
erease pay for the combined cost of the elements involved when nitrogen was 
one of them. | 

Potassium is evidently the second limiting element in this soil where decay- 
ing organic matter is not provided, but the limit of potassium is very far above 
the nitrogen limit. 

During the six years Plot 7, receiving nitrogen and potassium, produced 
a total of 291.3 bushels of corn (an average of 72.5 bushels a year), 54.7 
bushels of oats, and 36.5 bushels of wheat, per acre. To produce the increase 
of Plot 7 over Plot 5 would require about 75 percent of the total nitrogen 
applied. Thus, there was a loss of 25 percent of the nitrogen applied, which 
is a smaller loss than usually occurs where commercial nitrogen is used. With- 
out doubt larger yields would have been produced, especially of corn, if 150 or 
200 pounds of nitrogen per acre per annum had been used, which would have 
increased the cost of nitrogen to $22.50 or $30 per acre each year. 

It need scarcely be mentioned that commercial nitrogen is used in these 
and other experiments in Illinois only to help discover what elements are limit- 
ing the crop yields. It should never be purchased for use in general farming, 
but, if needed, should be secured from the atmosphere by growing legume 
crops and returning them to the soil directly or in manure. It is interesting 
to note that on the sand soil the six years’ increase from $15 worth of phos- 
phorus (even when applied with nitrogen) is valued at only 22 cents. 

On three other series of plots on the Green Valley soil experiment field a 
three-year rotation of corn, oats, and cowpeas was practiced, every crop being 
represented every year. On plots receiving lime and phosphorus, and legume 
crops as green manure, the yield of corn was 45.6 bushels in 1906 and 67.8 
bushels in 1907, as compared with a yield of 70.8 bushels and 64.7 bushels on 
Plot 6 of Series 400 receiving lime, phosphorus, and nitrogen (see Table 18), 
and with 10.4 bushels and 13.1 bushels on Plot 4 of the same series, to which 
no nitrogen was applied. On other plots receiving comparable treatment, where 
lime, phosphorus, and potassium were used with nitrogen-gathering legume 
crops as green manure, the corn yields in the three-year rotation were 54.6 
bushels in 1906 and 51.5 bushels in 1907, as compared with 66.4 bushels and 
73.6 bushels on Plot 9 of Series 400, to which nitrogen was applied, and with 
18.3 bushels and 27.7 bushels on Plot 8, which received no nitrogen. 

The use of limestone and farm manure, and the growing of legume crops 
are the only recommendations made for the improvement of these well-drained 
sand soils, altho, until more organic matter is supplied, further tests may show 
profit from potassium. Cowpeas and soybeans are well adapted to such soil, 
and they produce very large yields of excellent hay or of grain very valuable 
for feed and also for seed. | 

Under the best conditions and with good preparation, sweet clover can 
be grown in good seasons with proper soil treatment and moderate manuring. 
Alfalfa can also be grown, more than five tons of alfalfa hay per acre in one year 
having been produced on part of the Green Valley field. Soybeans, sweet clover, 
and alfalfa should be inoculated with the proper nitrogen-fixing bacteria. 


1916] WINNEBAGO COUNTY 43 


(b) UpLtaNnp TIMBER SOILS 


When the glaciers receded from Winnebago county, no forests existed there. 
It was all prairie land. Gradually the forests began to invade the prairie, and 
the invasion has continued to the present day, altho man has destroyed much 
of the forests in the process of clearing land for cultivation. Where cleared 
of timber, the upland virgin soils did not contain such large amounts of 
organic matter matter as did the prairie land. Originally they were the same. 
The effect on upland of long periods of foresting is to reduce the organic-matter 
content, for the roots of grasses are principally responsible for the high organic 
content of prairie soils, and forest soils contain practically none of these. 
What roots there are, are large and undergo complete decay. Leaves and 
twigs that fall upon the surface of forested areas either undergo almost com- 
plete decay or are burned by forest fires, and there is very little chance for 
them to become incorporated with the soil. The result is that the organic-matter 
content of the upland timber soils has been lowered until it averages less than 
half that of the prairie soils. The average organic-matter content of the upland 
prairie soils in Winnebago county is 4.76 percent in the surface and 2.36 percent 
in the subsurface, while in the upland timber soils the corresponding percentages 
are 2.28 and 1.15. | 

Yellow-Gray Sit Loam (634 and 734) 


Yellow-gray silt loam is one of the very extensive types in Winnebago 
county, occuring very largely over the northwestern and southeastern parts of 
the county in very irregular areas along with brown silt loam, brown sandy 
loam, and other less extensive types. It occupies a total of 83.18 square miles 
(53,235 acres), or 16.13 percent of the area of the county. The topography 
varies from flat to slightly rolling, being generally sufficiently sloping for good 
surface drainage. This type, up to the time of settlement, was usually timbered, 
tho much of it is now cleared. There are areas of the type in the southwestern 
and northwestern parts of the county that have been produced by the removal, 
by erosion, of a large part of the surface soil from the lighter phase of brown 
silt loam. 

The surface soil, 0 to 624 inches, is a yellowish gray silt loam varying to 
brownish yellow, incoherent and mealy but not-granular. The amount of organic 
matter contained in it varies from 1.6 to 3.7 percent, with an average of 2.3 per- 
cent, or 23 tons per acre, the content increasing where the type grades into brown. 
silt loam (626 and 726) and brown-gray silt loam on tight clay (628), and 
decreasing where it passes into yellow silt loam (635) and light gray silt loam 
on tight clay (632). In places, erosion has reduced the amount of organic matter. 

The subsurface stratum varies from 4 to 11 inches in thickness and is a 
brownish or grayish yellow silt loam, becoming slightly heavier with depth 
and containing about 1 percent of organic matter. At a depth of 10 to 17 
inches it passes into the yellow or grayish yellow subsoil. 

The subsoil is a clayey silt or silty clay, is friable when moist, but plastic 
when wet. Till is frequently encountered at a depth of 36 to 38 inches. Usually 
a slight amount of gravel is found in the lower depths of the subsoil, which is 


[ January, 


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CTH, HOOLLNY ‘SLNAWIUAIXH TOG NI SGIRIX dOuN-—6l AIAvV, 


44 


Lime 


1916} WINNEBAGO COUNTY 45 
TABLE £0.—VALUE OF CROPS PER ACRE IN THIRTEEN YEARS, ANTIOCH FIELD 
Total value of 
: ; thirteen crops 
Plot Soil treatment applied £8 oS SENN 
Lower Higher 
prices’ | prices? 
MU PERE N OLG yea tiani ctern atte Neer cach nals nate ca Miia? are 8! ogo Laos ern tie ting $135.12 | $193.03 
VANS (ICE pe AE SN IAD, A OS leg a AEN oe Oe AT 119.74 | 171.06 
Diem ITN Os MELALE OW GLa ie te ait. erg cole eka de oe cba ye ato oo eal alsieve tiene is & 124.70 178.15 
MU Gma Le MOS DNOLUS Steril he Men stn Mey reer ie Grew atiaha ch2 ~'s,0. serie, exo ce ae 6G 202.20 | 288.85 
LOSME IMO POLASRIMITM ye «oot GAM seas asePane cewee Vie Wnt ee waldo) oo teie ora aie.s when | 188.88 198.40 
LOGE Lamon NIETO LON s PHOSPUOLIR ate eh sas, t erecta ee cs - kel vie oaepeoe wit e ls 47 DATs 256,00 
TU Sel aes NILLOVGH yO USBI artes sie cee ea ase Mae aot ville vee e wees a 133.54 190.77 
108 |Nitregen; phosphorus, potassium..........---+---+s++ eset eee: 201.35 | 287.65 
109 |Lime, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium..............,eecee cece 191.22 273.18 
DIMEN A bLOCON AplOsDNOrls, DOLMSSAUML ys, 6.45, oa vasley aetinis fale he ayes. e\4 o- 01e'y 8 oss LSPTB8 = BHE83~ 
Value of Increase per Acre in Thirteen years 196.62 280.88 
Horgnicrowenscte Meter 5.) t Baal Cmebei i 3 Lia RR MT er ey clon $ 496 | $ 7.09 
BC Cey OD LOG PO LUG ort mty aera clsibis Lee 0 phism a iat one o Eons dere) § ERD Cu AAD Cee 82.46 LUT 9 
For nitrogen and phosphorus over phosphorus................eeeeeeee: —22.79 | 32.54 
For. phosphorus, ands nitrogen. Overs NiLTOPeN oa is'5. 222 erciw se Sirk os esl He we see'e 54.71 78.16 
For potassium, nitrogen, and phosphorus over nitrogen and phosphorus... 11.81 16.87 


*Wheat at 70 cents a bushel, corn at 35 cents, oats at 28 cents, hay at $7 a ton. 
*Wheat at $1 a bushel, corn at 50 cents, oats at 40 cents, hay at $10 a ton. 


derived from the glacial material. 
1 percent. 

In the management of yellow-gray silt loam, the most essential points are 
the use of limestone and phosphorus and the maintenance or increase of the 
organic matter. This type not only contains no limestone but it is distinctly 
sour in the subsurface and highly acid in the subsoil. It contains only two- 
thirds as much phosphorus as the brown silt loam, and only one-half as much 
nitrogen. It is also less porous and affords a less extended feeding range for 
plant roots than the brown silt loam. 

Table 19 shows in detail thirteen years’ results secured from the Antioch 
soil experiment field located in Lake county on the yellow-gray silt loam of 
the late Wisconsin glaciation. The Antioch field was started in order to learn 
as quickly as possible what effect would be produced by the addition to this 
type of soil, of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, singly and in combination. 
These elements were all added in commercial form until 1911, after which the 
use of commercial nitrogen was discontinued and crop residues were substituted. 
(See report of Urbana field, page 20,.for further explanation.) Only a 
small amount of lime was applied at the beginning, in harmony with the teach- 
ing which was common at that time; furthermore, Plot 101 proved to be 
abnormal, so that no conclusions can be drawn regarding the effect of lime. 
In order to ascertain the effect produced by additions of the different elements 
singly, Plot 102 must be regarded as the check plot. Three other comparisons 
are also possible to determine the effect of each element under different 
conditions. 

As an average of 40 tests (4 each year for ten years), liberal applications 
of commercial nitrogen produced a slight decrease in crop values; but as an 


This gravel in some cases amounts to over 


46 Som Report No. 12 [ January, 


average of thirteen years each dollar invested in phosphorus paid back $2.54 
(Plot 104) at the lower crop valuations used in the tabular statement, while 
potassium applied in addition to phosphorus (Plot 108) produced no increase. 
Thus, while the detailed data show great variation, owing both to some irregu- 
larity of the soil and to some very abnormal seasons, with three almost com- 
plete crop failures (1904, 1907, and 1910), yet the general summary strongly 
confirms the analytical data in showing the need of applying phosphorus and 
the profit from its use, and the loss in adding potassium. In most cases com- 
mercial nitrogen damaged the small grains by causing the crop to lodge; but 
in those years when a corn yield of 40 bushels or more was secured by the appli- 
cation of phosphorus either alone or with potassium, then the addition of 
nitrogen produced an increase. Tho commercial nitrogen was used in these 
experiments, of course the atmosphere is the most economical source of nitrogen 
where that element is needed for soil improvement in general farming. (See 
Appendix for detailed discussion of ‘“‘Permanent Soil Improvement’’ and 
‘‘Physical Improvement of Soils.’’) 


Yellow Silt Loam (685 and 735) 


Yellow silt loam occupies 25.39 square miles (16,250 acres), or 4.92 percent 
of the area of Winnebago county. It occurs as the hilly and badly-eroded tim- 
ber upland and is most abundant in the northwestern part of the county in the 
Iowan glaciation. It is so badly broken and so steep that as a rule it should 
not be cultivated but should be left in pasture or meadow. Practically all of 
it has been in timber. 

The surface soil, 0 to 624 inches, is a light brown, brownish yellow, or 
yellow silt loam. It contains about 2.8 percent of organic matter, or 28 tons 
per acre. It varies a great deal because of erosion and the presence of varying 
amounts of gravel and stones. Many patches of gravel and stony loam exist that 
are too small to be shown separately on the map. 

The natural subsoil usually begins at a depth of 9 to 12 inches and consists 
of a compact, yellow, clayey silt. Usually glacial material constitutes part 
of the subsoil, in which cases the subsoil is much heavier and contains limestone 
and a noticeable percentage of gravel. Rock, overlain with a heavy reddis 
clay, is often found within 40 inches of the surface. ) 

In the management of yellow silt loam, the most important factor is 
the prevention of surface washing and gullying. If the land is cropped at all, 
a rotation should be practiced that will require a cultivated crop as little as 
possible and allow pasture and meadow most of the time. If tilled, the land 
should be plowed deep and contours should be followed as nearly as possible 
in plowing, planting, and cultivating. Furrows should not be made up and 
down the slopes. Every means should be employed to maintain and to increase 
the organic-matter content. This will help hold the soil and keep it in good 
physical condition so that it will absorb a large amount of water and thus 
diminish the run-off. 

Additional treatment recommended for this yellow silt loam is the liberal 
use of limestone wherever cropping is practiced. This type is quite acid in 
the subsurface, and where cultivated it is usually very deficient in nitrogen; 


1916] WINNEBAGO COUNTY 47 


and the limestone, by correcting the acidity of the soil, is especially beneficial 
to the clover grown to increase the supply of nitrogen. (Hven where limestone 
is present in the subsoil, the upper strata may be sour.) Where it has been long 
cultivated and thus exposed to surface washing, this type is particularly de- 
ficient in nitrogen; indeed, on such lands the low supply of nitrogen is the 
factor that first limits the growth of grain crops. This fact is very strikingly 
illustrated by the results from two pot-culture experiments reported in Tables 
21 and 22 and shown photographically in Plates 5 and 6. 

In one experiment, a large quantity of typical worn hill soil was collected 
from two different places. Each lot of soil was thoroly mixed and put 
in ten four-gallon jars. Wheat was planted in one series and oats in the 
other.1 Ground limestone was added to all the jars except the first and last 
in each set, those two being retained as control or check pots. The elements 
nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium were added singly and in combination, 
as shown in Table 21. 


PLATE 5.—WHEAT IN Pot-CuLTURE EXPERIMENT WITH YELLOW SILT LOAM OF WoRN HILL LAND 
(See Table 21) 


TABLE 21.—CroPp YIELDS IN PoT-CULTURE EXPERIMENT WITH YELLOW SILT LOAM OF WORN 
Hitt LAND 


(Grams per pot) 


Pot 


No Soil treatment applied Wheat Oats 
LMEMULLN C1 Gia fet Rete tes Sonrcsd cere GW atel ch aleve cVeh O roe tots OM at -atots'ele/ Oe eke si asc 3 ae 3 5 

Pm PROS LONGING ren sels aoe gy clei tea et ahctnrs, eee Lae Ee hath Ca ae mae 4 4 

ae ee LOO DICtOD CH secs cdha ats aisin pei dere suerte iene he wigs ape civigte 8.2 26 45 

2 AM PRENES| Rant: le) Tah 0) ROVE cae ey lene ie Mie ae Sel RN a ie Ga 3 6 

GEE UTOSUOMO et OLASSIU ME ce pt a cetatas sed ets stelle we etoba erate Restate eae {oce eS 'e os | 3 5 

Ga) Limestone, miuitrogeny, DHOSphOrUss sa. dele sc cistle te a te ese era mie cise ss 34 38 

Wh LOSE DDG.* NILTOWEN.6 DOLASSIUIN si2.2)- nc 2 ete ec erosions o's ls ete we orn e 33 46 

Sie | Pamestone, phosphorus, pOtasslunt sx s0.% 0. Parle die oe giv cece we Sos ehs pect 5 

9 |Limestone, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium..............+++ee00: 34 38 

HL San PN OLR Oreeat coe cteenstgs ciao cen akties at anon eo als at aihe, este ates. dfe ete, dale! wis = 6 3,019 6 3 5 
AVOLACGavrold swat leliitl op Oia mums eer tt as bis ae cneulae he cece wie dies a4 SVR Bat hos 
AVOLAPGLVIGl se WALlOUG TILLOD Rivas tials eo vionciains erclaisia/ scolar ef ats 6 te e's alee sve 8s 3 5 
Average gain for nitrogen......... sy SOPYDIS SRR RS yh BIOL CLEe eRe 29 37 


*Soil for wheat pots, from loess-covered unglaciated area, and that for oat pots from upper 
Illinois glaeiation. 


48 Som Report No. 12 [ January, 


As an average, the nitrogen applied produced a yield about eight times 
as large as that secured without the addition of nitrogen. While some variations 
in yield are to be expected, because of differences in the individuality of seed 
or other uncontrolled causes, yet there is no doubting the plain lesson taught 
by these actual trials with growing plants. 

The question arises next, Where is the farmer to secure this much-needed 
nitrogen? To purchase it in commercial fertilizers would cost too much; indeed, 
under usual conditions the cost of the nitrogen in such fertilizers is greater than 
the value of the increase in crop yields. heer 

But there is no need whatever to purchase nitrogen, for the air contains 
an inexhaustible supply of it, which, under suitable conditions, the farmer can 
draw upon, not only without cost, but with profit in the getting. Clover, alfalfa, 
cowpeas, and soybeans are not only worth raising for their own sake, but they 
have the power to secure nitrogen from the atmosphere if the soil contains the 
essential minerals and the proper nitrogen-fixing bacteria. 

In order to secure further information along this line, another experiment 
with pot cultures was conducted for several years with the same type of worn 
hill soil as that used for wheat in the former experiment. The results are 
reported in Table 22. 

To three pots (Nos. 3, 6, and 9) nitrogen was applied in commercial form, 
at an expense amounting to more than the total value of the crops produced. 


PLATE 6..—WHEAT IN PoT-CULTURE EXPERIMENT WITH YELLOW SILT LOAM OF WoRN HILL LAND 
(See Table 22) 


TABLE 22.—-CRoP YIELDS IN PoT-CULTURE EXPERIMENT WITH YELLOW SILT LOAM OF WoRN 
Hint LAND AND NITROGEN-FIXING GREEN MANURE CROPS 


(Grams per pot) 
1903 | 1904 1905 1906 1907 


Pot Soil treatment 

No. Wheat | Wheat | Wheat | Wheat | Oats 
Do tIN ONG ocr coe & wheat Wen coke te tchaneee ON te ar ha 5 4 4 4 6 
2° Limestone; lerume sania sor ern ee ae ne ie 10 We 26 19 37 

11 |Limestone, legume, phosphorus.............. 14 19 20 18 27 

12 |Limestone, legume, phosphorus, potassium...| 16 20 21 19 30 
3 bh Limestone snitrogens ss) 1a. ape tee 17 14 15 9 28 
6 j|Limestone, nitrogen, phosphorus............ 26 20 18 18 30 
9 |Limestone, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium 31 34 21 20 26 
8 |Limestone, phosphorus, potassium........... 3 3 3) 3 i 


1916] WINNEBAGO COUNTY ; 4h 


In three other pots (Nos. 2, 11, and 12) a crop of cowpeas was grown during 
the late summer and fall and turned under before the wheat or oats were 
planted. Pots 1 and 8 served for important comparisons. After the second 
cover crop of cowpeas had been turned under, the yield from Pot 2 exceeded 
that from Pot 3; and in the subsequent years the legume green manures pro- 
duced, as an average, rather better results than the commercial nitrogen. This 
experiment confirms that reported in Table 21 in showing the very great need 
of nitrogen for the improvement of this type of soil,—and it also shows that 
nitrogen need not be purchased but that it can be obtained from the air by 
growing legume crops and plowing them under as green manure. Of course 
the soil can be very markedly improved by feeding the legume crops to live 
stock and returning the resulting farm manure to the land, if legumes are 
grown frequently enough and if the farm manure produced is sufficiently 
abundant and is saved and applied with care. 

As a rule, it is not advisable to try to enrich this type of soil in phosphorus, 
for with erosion, which is sure to occur to some extent, the phosphorus supply 
will be renewed from the subsoil. 

Probably the best legumes for this type of soil are sweet clover and alfalfa. 
On soil deficient in organic matter sweet clover grows better than almost any 
other legume, and the fact that it is a very deep-rooting plant makes it of 
value in increasing the organic matter and preventing washing. Worthless 
slopes that have been ruined by washing may be made profitable as pasture 
by growing sweet clover.. The blue grass of pastures may well be supplemented 
by sweet clover and alfalfa, and a larger growth obtained, because the legumes 
provide the necessary nitrogen for the blue grass. 

To get alfalfa well started requires the liberal use of limestone, thoro inocu- 
lation with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, and a moderate application of farm manure. 
If manure is not available, it is well to apply about 500 pounds per acre of 
acid phosphate or steamed bone meal, mix it with the soil, by disking if possible, 
and then plow it under. The limestone (about 5 tons) should be applied 
after plowing and should be mixed with the surface soil in the preparation of 
the seed bed. The special purpose of this treatment is to give the alfalfa a 
quick start in order that it may grow rapidly and thus protect the soil from 
washing. 


Yellow Silt Loam on Rock (685.5) 


Yellow silt loam on rock occupies 4.21 square miles (2,694 acres), or .82 
percent of the area of Winnebago county. It occurs almost entirely in the 
northwestern part of the county in the pre-Iowan glaciation. Many outcrops 
of gravel and rock are found that give rise to small patches of gravelly and 
stony loam too numerous even to indicate on the map. In topography this type 
is very broken, and in this respect is similar to the yellow silt loam. 

The surface soil, 0 to 624 inches, consists of a yellow or brownish yellow 
silt loam that in some cases is quite well supplied with organic matter. The 
average amount is 3.1 percent, or 31 tons per acre. 

The subsurface varies in thickness from 0 to 10 inches and frequently 
rests directly upon limestone rock. In many eases, overlying the rock is a 


50 Sor: Report No. 12 [ January, 


stratum of heavy red residual clay, containing some gravel, that is not readily © 
pervious to water. 

In the management of this type, the suggestions for yellow silt loam should 
be followed. 


Light Gray Silt Loam on Tight Clay (632) 


Light gray silt loam on tight clay comprizes only .381 square mile (198 
acres), or .06 percent of the area of the county. The only areas in the up- 
land are found in the southwestern and southern parts of the county west of the 
Rock river. The topography is so flat that drainage is difficult, altho the region 
is not swampy. The type was formerly covered with hickory and white oak. 

The surface soil is a gray to yellowish gray, mealy silt loam, very low in 
organic matter, the amount present being 2.4 percent, or 24 tons per acre. Iron 
concretions are present which vary in size, the largest being about one-fourth 
inch in diameter. 

The subsurface varies from a light gray to a yellowish gray silt loam and 
contains .8 percent of organic matter. It extends to a depth of 14 to 18 inches 
and becomes more clayey with depth. 

The subsoil is a yellow or grayish yellow, tight, compact, clayey silt or 
silty clay. 

Besides being very deficient in organic matter, this type contains no lime- 
stone; indeed it is one of the most acid types in Winnebago county, as will be 
seen by reference to Tables 16 and 17. Consequently it is in poor physical con- 
dition; it runs together badly and does not retain moisture well owing to the 
strong capillarity in the surface and subsurface strata caused by lack of organic 
matter. 

For the improvement of this type ground limestone should be used liberally. 
Deep-rooting crops, such as red, mammoth, or sweet clover, should be grown in 
order to loosen the tight clay subsoil as well as to supply the top soil (surface 
and subsurface strata) with organic matter and nitrogen. Where this type 
is not well drained, alsike will grow better than red clover. Crop residues 
should be plowed under or plenty of farm manure supplied, and the content 
of organic matter increased in every practical way. Pasturing is one of the 
best uses that can be made of this land, and even when used for this purpose 
it may well be liberally supplied with limestone and organic matter. If used 
for grain crops and clovers in rotation, it should also be enriched in phosphorus. 


Yellow-Gray Sandy Loam (764) 


Yellow-gray sandy loam occupies 238.91 square miles (15,308 acres), or 
4.63 percent of the area of Winnebago county. In topography it varies from 
undulating to slightly rolling. It occurs chiefly in the northern and eastern 
parts of the county. 

The surface soil, 0 to 624 inches, is a brownish yellow to a grayish yellow 
sandy loam varying in amount and coarseness of sand. The organic-matter 
content is quite low, ranging from 1.1 to 2.1 percent, with an average of 1.7 
percent, or 17 tons per acre. Some gravel is usually present, but it constitutes 


1916] WINNEBAGO COUNTY 51 


no significant part of the soil. The type is very sandy in some areas, more 
particularly north of Shirland, where it varies a great deal, much of it being 
a loamy sand but in such irregular areas that they cannot be shown on the map. 

The subsurface stratum, which ranges from 5 to 10 inches in thickness, 
varies much more in physical composition than the surface. The organic-matter 
content is only .6 percent, or about one-third that of the surface. The average 
amount of gravel varies from 1 to 3 percent, except in patches where it may be 
very abundant. 

The subsoil varies widely in physical composition, being frequently less 
sandy than the surface stratum and in many cases very heavy, with considerable 
amounts of gravel, indicating derivation from glacial material. In one sample 
of subsoil 8.6 percent of gravel was found. A reddish residual clay sometimes 
constitutes part or all of the subsoil. This'is sometimes brought to the surface 
thru erosion. 

In the management of yellow-gray sandy loam, the things primarily needed 
are limestone and organic matter. In these constituents, the type is one of the 
poorest in the county, with the exception of sand. (Note also the low amounts 
of nitrogen and calcium, as shown in Tables 2, 16, and 17.) Limestone should 
be applied, and every practicable means should be used for increasing the 
organic-matter content, such as turning under crop residues, legumes, and green 
erops, and applying manure. Limestone should be added in part to increase 
the growth of legumes. Sweet clover and alfalfa would do well on this soil 
if the conditions were made favorable. The phosphorus content is so low that 
the addition of that element may be necessary in order to obtain the best results, 
especially where the subsoil is compact. Where the porous sand stratum extends 
several feet in depth, potassium salts may prove profitable. 


Yellow-Gray Sandy Loam on Rock (764.5) 


Yellow-gray sandy loam on rock is confined largely to the Iowan glaciation 
north of the Pecatonica river, and consists of a number of irregular areas that 
total 1.94 square miles (1,242 acres), or .88 percent of the county. The 
topography varies from undulating to slightly rolling. 

The surface soil, 0 to 624 inches, consists of a yellowish gray or brownish 
yellow sandy loam, its rather high sand content giving it a loose, mealy texture. 
The organic-matter content varies with the amount and coarseness of the sand 
present, but averages 1.7 percent—about the same as the yellow-gray sandy loam 
(764). Small patches of gravelly or stony loam abound. 

The subsurface, which is from 7 to 10 inches in thickness, is a variable 
sandy loam of a yellowish or grayish yellow color, containing some reddish 
brown residual material that is somewhat plastic. At a depth of 12 to 17 
inches this passes into a reddish plastic clay of residual origin, frequently con- 
taining iron and lime concretions. Just before reaching rock, a layer one or 
two inches in thickness is found which consists of magnesian sand, probably de- 
rived from the disintegration of the limestone. 

This type varies about the same as yellow-gray sandy loam (764), except 
that it usually contains plenty of limestone in the subsurface and _ subsoil. 
Where the limestone can be reached by deep plowing, it may well be brought 
up and incorporated with the surface soil. Otherwise the type requires the 


\ 


8 Som Report No. 12 [ January, 


same treatment as the yellow-gray sandy loam. This soil does not withstand 
drouth well because of the presence of rock so near the surface. 


Yellow Sandy Loam (665 and 765) 


Yellow sandy loam occurs principally in the northeastern part of Winne- 
bago county and constitutes 3.55 square miles (2,272 acres), or .69 percent of 
the area of the county. As the topography is quite rolling, great care must 
‘be taken to prevent washing. 

The surface soil, 0 to 624 inches, is a light brownish yellow to yellow sandy 
loam varying considerably both in organic matter and in the amount and fine- 
ness of sand present. The organic-matter content averages about 1.9 percent, 
or 19 tons per acre. Where the type grades into silt loam, the sand becomes 
fine; in other places the amount of medium sand increases to such an extent 
that the type approaches a sand soil. Patches of gravelly loam are common. 

The subsurface stratum varies in thickness from 7 to 10 inches and con- 
sists of a variable yellow sandy loam with occasional gray mottlings. In the 
more silty phase of the type, iron concretions are common. There is .8 percent 
of organic matter present, or 16 tons per acre. The subsoil is yellow or reddish 
yellow, containing some gravel, which is derived from glacial drift. 

This type should receive practically the same treatment as the yellow silt 
loam. Every means should be taken to prevent washing; and organic matter 
should be incorporated into the soil as rapidly as possible and limestone applied 
except where the subsoil contains limestone sufficiently near the surface to bene- 
fit legume crops. 


Yellow Sandy Loam on Rock (765.5) 


Yellow sandy loam on rock occurs in the Iowan glaciation north of the Peca- 
tonica and east of the Sugar river, and is associated with the yellow-gray sandy 
loam on rock (764.5). It consists of an area of 1.77 square miles (1,133 acres), 
or .34 percent of the area of the county. The topography is rolling, so that 
erosion is very apt to occur. 

The surface soil, 0 to 624 inches, is a brownish yellow to yellow sandy loam 
varying in organic matter and the amount and character of the sand. The 
organic-matter content averages about 1 percent, or 10 tons per acre. The 
sand is mostly of medium fineness, tho in some places it is coarse and increases 
to such an amount that the soil grades into a sand. 

The subsurface is a yellow sandy loam containing some reddish residual 
clay, which does not seem to be uniformly distributed. The organic-matter con- 
tent is .7 percent, or 14 tons per acre. 

Below 14 inches the subsoil is made up almost entirely of residual clay of 
a reddish or brownish red color. Sometimes this material contains gravel, which 
is probably derived from the glacial material. Limestone sand usually occurs 
over the rock, and in places it may be brought up and incorporated with the 
surface soil by deep plowing. 

In phosphorus content this type is the poorest of all the types in the county, 
and the addition of that element will no doubt be required for the best results. 
Trials may also well be made with potassium salts because of the fact that that 
element is so largely locked up in the sand grains. 


1916] WINNEBAGO COUNTY | . 53 


Gravelly Loam (690 and 790) 


Gravelly loam occurs in Winnebago county in both the Iowan and the pre- 
Towan glaciations. It occupies, as mapped, 6.16 square miles (3,942 acres), or 
1.19 percent of the area of the county. The areas are most abundant south of 
Pecatonica and east of the Rock river near the edge of the upland. The type is 
very irregularly distributed, however, and frequently occurs in areas too small 
to map. Some of these small areas are indicated by small circles. The topog- 
raphy is quite rolling, with rounded: knobs, this feature having been produced by 
glacial influence. In many areas of gravelly loam, stones are found, and some 
small areas could be classed as stony loam. A very narrow belt of gravelly loam 
cr gravel occurs where the terrace breaks the present flood plain of the Rock 
river. 

The surface soil consists of a mixture of gravel and coarse sand, and con- 
tains 4.4 percent of organic matter. The subsurface is usually more gravelly 
than the surface. In many cases samples of the subsurface are very difficult 
to obtain because of the presence of gravel so large as to prevent the use of the 
auger. The larger part of the coarser material of the gravelly loam is made 
up of fragments of limestone while the larger part of the finer material is silica 
or is made up of fragments of granite and related rocks. 

This is a moderately rich type, especially in phosphorus and limestone. It 
ought to grow alfalfa and other legumes where the topography is suitable for 
eropping. With liberal use of legume crops or manure, potassium is the only 
addition likely to prove profitable, most of this element being locked up in the 
sand and gravel. 

(c) RESIDUAL SOILS 


The residual soils in Winnebago county are very poorly developed. The 
residual material is mixed with large amounts of transported material, so that 
pure residual soils are not to be found. The principal areas occur east of the 
Sugar river near the Wisconsin line and on the upland east of the Rock river 
terrace in the northern half of the county. In many places the limestone residue 
has been brought to the surface by erosion, but only in areas too small to be 
mapped. 
Stony Loam (798 and 698) 


There are 2.25 square miles of stony loam (1,440 acres) in Winnebago 
county. The stones present vary in size from an inch to a foot or more in 
diameter, and generally preclude the possibility of cultivation. The only value 
of the type is for pasture. The larger part of the stones are limestone, altho 
mixed with these may be found boulders of granite, syenite, diorite, ete. In 
the northeastern part of the county the latter constitute the major part. The 
soil may be either sandy or silty. Where the stones are of limestone, solid rock 
is usually encountered at a depth of less than a foot. 


Rock Outcrop (799) 


Rock outcrop occurs in very small areas aggregating a total of about 13 
acres exclusive of those areas that have been worked as quarries. Almost in- 
numerable outcrops occur that have been quarried to a small extent. The county 
is well supplied with limestone, which, with the increasing acidity of the soil, 


54 Sor. Report No. 12 [ January, 


inay be advantageously utilized for soil improvement. Many small areas of 
rock outcrop are found that are too small to be shown on the map. 


(d) TERRACE SOILS 


The terrace soils comprize 82.81 square miles, or 16.07 percent of the area 
of the county. They are divided into two distinct classes: the gravel terraces 
found along the Rock and Kishwaukee rivers, and the silt terraces occurring 
along the Pecatonica river. The former were produced from material deposited 
by overloaded streams that carried the flood water from the melting glacier. The 
material transported was coarse, consisting of small stones, gravel, and coarse 
sand. By deposition of this, the old valleys have been partly filled and terraces 
produced. The silt terraces were formed by deposition of fine material in ponded 
streams, resulting in the formation of shallow lakes and the partial filling of 
these by fine sediment. 

These two kinds of terrace are quite different in soil formation, the gravel 
terraces being of the sandier type, while the silt terraces are made up largely of 
sit and clay. Conditions for the growth of timber have not been so favorable 
on the gravel terraces as on the silt, and as a result little timber is found on 
the former. 

Black Clay Loam (1520) 


Black clay loam is found principally on the Pecatonica and Sugar river 
terraces. It occupies 2.08 square miles (1,331 acres), or .4 percent of the area 
of the county. In topography it is very flat. It needs drainage above every- 
thing else. 

The surface soil, 0 to 624 inches, is a black, granular, somewhat plastic, 
clayey loam, containing 7.5 percent of organic matter, or 75 tons per acre. 
Locally a perceptible amount of sand may be present, sufficient in some cases 
to produce a sandy clay loam. These areas are irregular and too small to be 
indicated on the map. 

The subsurface soil extends to a depth of 18 to 20 inches, and varies from 
a dark brown to brownish drab clay loam, passing into a drab or yellowish drab 
subsoil. It contains 5.1 percent of organic matter. 

The subsoil varies to some extent, but generally consists of a clayey silt or 
silty clay, mostly the former. The color, drab or yellowish drab, indicates 
poor oxidation, the result of deficient drainage. 

The principal requirements for the type are drainage and the maintenance 
of organic matter. After long cropping the addition of limestone and phos- 
phorus will become necessary. 


Brown Silt Loam (1526) 


Brown silt loam occurs principally in the western part of Winnebago county 
along the Pecatonica river. It differs from the upland brown silt loam in having 
a tighter, more clayey subsoil; and it might be said that this is characteristic 
of practically all the silt terrace types. The total area of the type is 4.75 square 
miles (3,040 acres), or .92 percent of the area of the county. The topography 
is flat or very slightly undulating, the undulations being due to former stream 
channels, or bars, or irregular deposits of silty material. Drainage is generally 
poor, and the soil is so heavy that drainage and tillage are somewhat difficult. 


1916] WINNEBAGO COUNTY 55 
The surface soil, 0 to 624 inches, varies froma light brown to a dark brown 
or black silty loam containing some finesand. The lighter colored phase is in the 
Pecatonica terrace, while the darker and heavier phase is along the Sugar river 
and Otter creek. The organic-matter content is higher than that of the upland 
brown silt loam; in the heavier phase it averages 8.1 percent, or 81 tons per. 
acre, while in the Pecatonica phase it averages 7 percent, or 70 tons per acre. 

The subsurface soil of the type found along Otter creek and Sugar river is 
a dark, brownish drab, heavy silt loam extending to a depth of 16 to 18 inches, 
while along the Pecatonica river it is light brown to yellowish brown and ex- 
tends to a depth of 12 inches. It contains 3 percent of organic matter. 

The subsoil is a heavy, plastic, drabbish, clayey silt or silty clay that verges 
toward the impervious in some places in the Pecatonica terrace. Some gravel 
and iron concretions are present. 

This brown silt loam is one of the richest soils in the county, altho there 
is a slight tendency toward acidity in all strata. Limestone is the only material 
which is suggested for trial upon this land, aside from the use of legume crops 
in rotation and the return of residues or manure. With long-continued crop- 
ping, moderate use should be made of phosphorus so as to prevent the depletion 
of that element. On the more level areas drainage is very essential. 


Brown Silt Loam over Gravel (1527) 


Brown silt loam over gravel is confined entirely to the gravel terraces along 
the Rock and Kishwaukee rivers. It covers a total area of 5.88 square miles 
(3,763 acres), or 1.14 percent of the area of the county. In topography it 
varies from flat to undulating. Natural drainage is usually good. 

The surface soil, 0 to 625 inches, consists of a brown silt loam varying in 
color from a light brown to black, and in composition from a silt loam eontain- 
ing perceptible amounts of sand to a slightly heavy phase of silt loam. It con- 
tains 4.7 percent of organic matter, or 47 tons per acre. 

The subsurface soil is a brown silt loam extending to a depth of 16 to 20 
inches and containing 2.5 percent of organic matter, or 50 tons per acre. 

The subsoil consists of a yellowish, slightly clayey silt, becoming in some 
borings quite sandy and in places passing into gravel. The depth to gravel varies 
from 80 to 60 inches. 

This type is one of the best of the terrace types. The depth of fine material 
is sufficient for retaining a good supply of moisture for crops, and as a con- 
sequence there is less suffering from drouth than there is on some of the other 
terrace types. Artificial drainage is not often necessary, altho in a few cases 
it would be desirable. Vertical drainage could be used to fair advantage in 
some areas. 

In the improvement of brown silt loam over gravel, ground limestone should 
be applied, and all crop residues that are not used to good advantage on the 
farm for feeding purposes should be turned back into the soil. Manure should 
be applied and legume crops grown. The type contains a very fair supply of 
phosphorus, and with the rather porous character of the subsoil, it is doubtful 
whether the addition of phosphorus would prove profitable for some years to 


come. 


56 Som Report No. 12 [ January, 


Brown-Gray Silt Loam on Tight Clay (1528) 


Brown-gray silt loam on tight clay is found principally in the western part 
of the county on the Pecatonica and Sugar creek terraces. It occupies an area 
of 2.45 square miles (1,568 acres), or .48 percent of the area of the county. 
The topography is generally level or very slightly sloping. 

The surface soil, 0 to 624 inches, is a brown silt loam containing 5.6 percent 
of organic matter, or 56 tons per acre. 

The subsurface, extending from 15 to 17 inches in depth, is a brownish 
eray to light gray silt loam or loamy silt, becoming more compact and less 
pervious with depth. It contains 1.1 percent of organic matter and some iron 
concretions. | 

The upper part of the subsoil is a yellowish gray, compact, rather slowly 
pervious silt, with a varying amount of clay. This usually is underlain by a 
lighter, more sandy silt, which becomes less compact at a depth of 30 to 36 inches. 

Since lack of drainage is what has produced the peculiar characteristics 
of this type, it follows that one of the first requirements is drainage. In the 
improvement of the type, ground limestone should be applied and deep-rooting 
crops, such as red, mammoth, and sweet clover should be grown to loosen the sub- 
soil and render it more pervious. These should be turned under with crop resi- 
dues, or should be used for feed and the manure returned to the soil. Phosphorus 
must also be applied in permanent systems of improvement, and it is likely to 
prove profitable if turned under with vegetable matter. 


Light Gray Silt Loam (1532) 


Light gray silt loam occupies 6.58 square miles (4,211 acres), or 1.25 
percent of the area of Winnebago*county. Practically all of it is found on 
the Pecatonica silt terrace, generally on the slightly higher part. In topography 
it is flat, with a few old stream channels. Iron concretions are found in all 
strata. 

- The surface soil, 0 to 624 inches, consists of a light gray to yellowish gray 
silt loam, very mealy and pulverulent, usually containing some fine sand. The 
amount of organic matter present averages 2.43 percent, or 24 tons per acre. 

The subsurface extends to a depth of 14 inches, and consists of a yellowish 
gray silt loam, very pulverulent, but with a close arrangement, so that water 
does not penetrate it very readily. It tontains about .7 percent of organic 
matter. 

The subsoil, beginning at about 14 inches, becomes more yellow and more 
compact with depth, and in the deeper subsoil sand becomes a prominent con- 
stituent. 

This is the most acid soil type in the county; it is also deficient in organic 
matter and rather poor in phosphorus. In its improvement, ground limestone 
should be applied, and crop residues, manure, and legume crops should be turned — 
under to maintain and to increase the supply of organic matter. The supply 
of phosphorus should also be increased. Deep-rooting crops aid materially in 
the loosening of the subsurface and the subsoil. 


1916] WINNEBAGO COUNTY 57 


Yellow-Gray Sit Loam over Gravel (1536) 


Yellow-gray silt loam over gravel is found on the terrace along the Peca- 
tonica river, principally near the junction of that river and the Sugar river. 
The type covers 5.6 square miles (3,584 acres), or 1.09 percent of the area of 
the county. In topography it is flat to slightly undulating. 

The surface soil, 0 to 634 inches, is a light gray or yellowish gray silt loam, 
containing 2.25 percent of organic matter, or 22 tons per acre. 

The subsurface, extending to a depth of 12 to 14 inches, is a light gray silt 
loam, compact and not very pervious. It contains .55 percent of organic matter, 
or only 11 tons per acre. 

The subsoil is a yellow, slightly clayey silt, compact, and showing mottlings 
of iron. Gravel is found at a depth varying from 48 to 68 inches. The stratum 
of gravel, however, is not continuous or is clogged with finer material, so that 
drainage is somewhat hindered. 

This type requires the same treatment as the preceding type, light gray 
silt loam. 

Brown Sandy Loam on Gravel (1560.3) 


Brown sandy loam on gravel occurs very extensively on the terrace of the 
Rock river. It comprizes 18.15 square miles (11,616 acres), or 3.52 percent of 
the area of the county. In topography this type varies from flat to slightly 
rolling, the differences being due to bars that were formed by strong currents 
of water when the area was flooded. It is closely associated with brown sandy 
loam over gravel, differing chiefly in its lesser depth to the gravel. The two 
types occupy almost the entire Rock river terrace. 

The surface, 0 to 624 inches, is a brown, coarse, sandy loam, varying quite 
widely in sand content. In many places, it contains a small percentage of fine 
sravel, but not sufficient to class it as a gravelly loam. Locally, however, 
especially near the newer or first bottom land, patches of gravel or gravelly 
loam occur, but these are not large enough to be shown on the map. The stratum 
contains 4.1 percent of organic matter, or 41 tons per acre. 

The subsurface is a sandy loam, varying in thickness with the depth to 
sravel, and in color from brown to yellowish or reddish brown. It contains 
from 1 to 2 percent of gravel, and frequently sufficient clay to give it some 
plasticity. The organic-matter content averages 2.3 percent. 

The subsoil varies a great deal in texture. In some places it is largely 
made up of fine gravel mixed with coarse and some medium sand, while in others 
it is composed of a coarser gravel. In the northern part of the county, especially, 
much of this layer is made up of small boulders from 2 to 6 inches in diameter. 
The sample collected contained 23 percent of gravel. The depth to the subsoil 
varies from 12 to 24 inches. 

The value of this type of soil varies with the depth to the gravel. As a 
rule, the fine material is not of sufficient depth to give the soil great water- 
holding capacity. The water percolates thru the surface and subsurface soil 
and on to the subsoil, from which, because of the coarseness of the material, it 
eannot be brought up by capillary action. Crops that mature early may be 
erown to some advantage. In the management of this type the supply of 
organic matter must be maintained in order to give the soil the greatest possible 


58 Som Report No. 12 [ January, 


water-holding capacity. Limestone should be used and legume crops should be 
prominent in the rotation. 


Yellow-Gray Sandy Loam (1564) 


Yellow-gray sandy loam occupies the sandy terrace that has been forested 
along the Rock river and Coon ereek. It covers 2.16 square miles (1,383 acres), 
or .42 percent of the area of the county. The type in some places, particularly 
along the Rock river, is undulating and indicates dune topography. Along 
Coon creek it is more nearly flat and has more of the character of a sand plain. 

The surface soil, 0 to 624 inches, varies from a light brown to a brownish 
gray sandy loam and contains 1.6 percent of organic matter. The sand content 
varies somewhat, ranging from 50 to 70 percent. 

The subsurface varies from light brown to yellowish gray in color, and con- 
tains an average of 1.13 percent of organic matter. The sand content varies a 
creat deal; in some places the stratum is quite silty, while in others it contains 
80 percent of sand. The subsoil in places runs still higher in sand content. 

The principal lines of treatment in the management of this type are the 
use of limestone, legume crops, and organic manures. 


Brown Sandy Loam over Gravel (1566) 


Brown sandy loam over grave! occurs on all the terraces in the less undulat- 
ing areas. It occupies 34.43 square miles (22,035 acres), or 6.68 percent of the 
area of the county. This type differs from brown sandy loam on gravel in 
that a thicker layer of fine material rests on the gravel bed. It also SHIPS in 
topography, varying from flat to slightly undulating. 

The surface soil, 0 to 624 inches, is a brown sandy loam with an average of 
about 55 percent of sand, mostly medium and coarse, and 2.2 percent of organic 
matter, or 22 tons per acre. A small amount of gravel is present in some places. 

The subsurface is a brown sandy loam with a slightly higher sand content 
than the surface. The gravel content is also somewhat higher than in the sur- 
face stratum, altho it varies widely even in the same area. The thickness of this 
stratum varies considerably in some localities; usually it extends to a depth of 
26 to 30 inches before the characteristic yellowish color of the subsoil appears. 

The subsoil varies a great deal, in some places passing into a silty or clayey 
material and in others into a yellow sand. These variations are quite irregular, 
sometimes occurring within a few rods. a 

The brown sandy loam over gravel of the Pecatonica terrace varies some- 
what from that of the Rock river terrace in that the Pecatonica sand is finer 
and is more apt to pass into a silty material before the gravel is reached. The 
surface soil is not so dark as that of the Rock river terrace. Along the Sugar 
river some of the brown sandy loam has a red, silty, sandy subsoil, while some 
has a pure gray sand. 

In the management of this type ground limestone should be used and 
legume crops should be grown as much as possible for turning under and pro- 
viding nitrogenous organic matter. 


1916} WINNEBAGO COUNTY 59 


Dune Sand (1581) 


The dune sand of the terraces is found largely west of the Rock river in 
the extreme northern part of the county. One small area is found on the east 
side of the Rock river in Township 43 North, Range 1 East. The type covers 
a total area of .73 square miles, or 467 acres. It differs very little from the 
upland dune sand except that less of it is covered with timber. 

The surface soil, 0 to 624 inches, is a slightly loamy sand varying toward 
a pure sand. It contains very little organic matter, the average being about .7 
percent, or 7 tons per acre. The subsurface and the subsoil consist very largely 
of yellow sand. The former contains .5 percent of organic matter. 

For the improvement of this type the same methods should be followed 
as with the upland dune sand. 


(e)} LATE Swamp AND Bortrom-LAanp SoILs 
Deep Peat (1401) 


Deep peat occurs in various parts of Winnebago county, oceuping low, 
swampy areas that have a rather constant supply of moisture. It covers a total 
of 2.23 square miles (1,428 acres), or .43 percent of the area of the county. 

The surface soil, 0 to 674 inches, is a brown to black peat, containing 56 
percent of organic matter. The other strata differ but little from the surface, 
except that in some cases sand or silty material is to be found in the lower subsoil. 

Drainage is of first importance with this type. This in many eases is 
rather difficult to secure because tile cannot be laid to good advantage in peat 
on account of irregular settling and open ditches must be resorted to. 

This type is rich in all important elements of fertility except potassium. 
'A thoro trial should be made with potassium salts unless the supply of farm 
manure is sufficient to provide enough potassium. 

In Table 23 are given all results obtained from the Manito (Mason county) 
experiment field on deep peat, which was begun in 1902 and discontinued after 
1905. The plots in this field were one acre! each in size, 2 rods wide and 80 
rods long. Untreated half-rod division strips were left between the plots, which 
however, were cropped the same as the plots. 

The results of the four years’ tests, as given in Table 23, are in complete 
harmony with the information furnished by the chemical composition of peat 
soil. Where potassium was applied, the yield was from three to four times as 
large as where nothing was applied. Where approximately equal money values 
of kainit and potassium chlorid were applied, slightly greater yields were 
obtained with the potassium chlorid, which, however, supplied about one-third 
more potassium than the kainit. On the other hand, either material furnished 
more potassium than was required by the crops produced. 

The use of 700 pounds of sodium chlorid (common salt) produced no 
appreciable increase over the best untreated plots, indicating that where potas- 
sium is itself actually deficient, salts of other elements cannot take its place. 

Applications of 2 tons per acre of ground limestone produced no increase 


*In 1904 the yields were taken from quarter-acre plots because of severe insect injury on 
the other parts of the field. 


60 Sort Report No. 12 [ January, 


in the corn erops, either when applied alone or in combination with kainit, 
either the first year or the second. 


TABLE 23.—CORN YIELDS IN SOIL EXPERIMENTS, MANITO FIELD; TYPICAL DrEP PEat Soin 
(Bushels per acre) 


Plots Soil treatment ‘Corn | Corn Soil treatment Corn| Corn | Four 
No. for 1902 1902 | 1903 for 1904 1904! 1905 | crops 
G1 UEeNONG es: See eth 10.9) 287k None one en tee 17.0| 12.0 | 48.0 
2 None so Sse on oe 10.4 | 10.4 | Limestone, 4000 lbs....| 12.0) 10.1 | 42.9 
‘ oi , Limestone, 4000 lbs... 
3 Kainit, 600 Ibs......... | 30.4 | 32.4 | Kainit, Toon hee \ 49,6] 47.3 | 159.7 
( Kainit, 600 Ibs....... es ( Kainit, 1200 Ibs...... ) Z 
5 | Acidulat’d bone, 350 Ib. 30.3 | 33.3 Steamed bone, 395 lbs. § 53.5| 47.6 | 164.7 
5 Potassium chlorid, Potassium chlorid, 
900: lbssinn eee eee 31-2] 33,9 400 IDS. = cf eee 48.5} 52.7 | 166.3 
6 Sodium chlorid,-7001bs. 4. Dlalep i3,1- 1 = Nonela, eee. oe 94.0) 22-141 S700 
7 Sodium chlorid, 700 lbs. | 13.3 | 14.5 | Kainit, 1200 Ibs........ 44.5| 47.3 
8 Kainit, G00 lbs 1 eee ESE: Bale 37s Vege aut OOO aban een 44.0} 46.0 | 164.5 
9 Kainit, s00lbsa.e oon | 264°) 25.12) Kainit 300 :lbs i pa ses 41.5| 32.9 | 125.9 
10 N ONO'S hla och eee ee | 14.911 14.9 IN One Skies Oe 26.0! 13.6 69.4 


*Estimated from 1903; no yield was taken in 1902 because of a misunderstanding. 


Reducing the application of kainit from 600 to 300 pounds for each two- 
year period, reduced the yield of corn from 164.5 to 125.9 bushels. The two 
applications of 300 pounds of kainit (Plot 9) furnished 60 pounds of potassium 
for the four years, an amount sufficient for 84 bushels of corn (grain and stalks). 
Attention is called to the fact that this is practically the difference between the 
yield of Plot 9 (125.9 bushels) and the yield obtained from Plot 2 (42.9 bushels), 
the poorest untreated plot. 


Medium Peat on Clay (1402) 


Medium peat on clay occurs in areas similar in location to those of deep 
peat. It comprizes .43 square miles (275 acres), or .08 percent of the area of 
the county. 

The surface soil, 0 to 624 inches, consists of a brown or black peat contain- 
ing, as shown by a single sample, 52 percent of organic matter. The subsurface 
consists of almost identical material, with an organic-matter content of 46 per- 
cent. The subsoil is composed of a silty clay containing 1.6 percent of organic 
matter. 

Drainage is the first requirement of this type, and the clayey subsoil is suffi- 
ciently near the surface to furnish a very satisfactory bed for tile. If sufficient 
potassium is not secured from this soil to meet the needs of large crops, that 
element should be added. 


Medium Peat on Sand (1402.2) 


Medium peat on sand occupies but a comparatively small area in the county, 
aggregating .27 square miles, or 173 acres. The surface and subsurface soils con- 
sist of a brown peaty material, while the subsoil is a drab or grayish sand. The 
same treatment is suggested as for the preceding type. 


1916] WINNEBAGO COUNTY 61 


Shallow Peat on Clay (1403) 


Shallow peat on clay occupies only 51 acres in the county. The surface 
soil contains 35.2 percent of organic matter, the subsurface 21.3 percent, and 
the subsoil 1.2 percent. 

No limestone was found in this type. The addition of this material may 
prove helpful. Deep plowing may be resorted to if more potassium is needed 
in the surface soil. On a similar soil in Ford county deep plowing changed the 
yield of corn from about 20 bushels per acre to 60 (see Bulletin 157). 


Peaty Loam on Sand (1410.2) 


Peaty loam on sand is found principally in the low areas along the Sugar 
and Kishwaukee rivers and Coon creek, The total area is 4.43 square miles — 
(2,835 aeres), or .86 percent of the area of the county. The topography is flat 
and the areas are poorly drained. Alkali is abundant. 

The surface soil, 0 to 674 inches, consists of a sandy, peaty material con- 
taining 13 to 15 percent of organic matter. The composition, however, varies 
a great deal; in some localities it is distinctly a peat, while in others it runs 
toward black sandy loam or even black silt loam. 

The subsurface soil is usually a brown sandy loam, in many cases contain- 
ing a considerable percentage of silt. The organic-matter content averages 1.6 
percent. 

The subsoil is usually a drab or yellowish drab sand. It varies, however, 
containing in some places strata of more silty or clayey material. 

The first requirement of this type is drainage. Farm manure, preferably 
quick-acting, such as horse, mule, or sheep manure, may be used to correct the 
alkali condition and to supply potassium, which, tho present in fair amount, 
may be largely inaccessible because locked up in sand grains. Potassium salts 
may well be tried if the supply of manure is insufficient. 


Black Mixed Loam (1450) 


Black mixed loam occurs in the low, swampy, and poorly drained areas in 
which a variety of soils have been formed and have become so badly mixed that 
it is impossible to separate them into distinct types. These areas usually occur 
in valleys occupied by streams which furnish poor drainage for the lowland. 
The term ‘‘slough’’ is generally applied to them. In topography they are flat, 
and in many of them swampy conditions still exist. The total area is 17.29 
square miles (11,066 acres), or 3.55 percent of the area of the county. 

The surface soil, 0 to 624 inches, contains about 8.5 percent of organic 
matter, or 85 tons per acre, but it varies in this as it does also in mineral con- 
stituents. Some areas are peaty, while others may be heavy or even sandy. 

The subsurface soil varies in the same way as the surface. It contains 
about 3 percent of organic matter. It usually passes into a drabbish gravelly 
clay (apparently boulder clay), of which commonly the subsoil consists. Fre- 
quently the subsoil contains pebbles of limestone, and alkali is often found in 
this type. 

The surface of this type presents a characteristic hummocky appearance, 
as shown in Plate 7, especially when in pasture. The tramping of stock pro- 
duces this characteristic. 


62 Sor. Report No. 12 [ January, 


PLATE 7.—HUMMOCKS ON ‘‘ Bog LAND’’ 


Mixed Loam (Bottom Land) (1454) 


Mixed loam is found in very irregular areas along the bottom lands of 
streams. It covers a total area of 34.33 square miles (21,971 acres), or 6.64 per- 
cent of the area of the county. A large area has been developed within the Peca- 
tonica terrace, and more or less of the type is found in nearly all the other 
stream valleys. In topography it is flat to slightly undulating, the undulations 
being due to depositions and to washing by currents during flood periods. 
Some patches of peaty material occur, but are too small to map. 

The surface soil, 0 to 624 inches, is a brown mixed loam, varying from a 
silt loam to a sandy loam. This stratum contains an average of about 6.3 
percent of organic matter, or 63 tons per acre, but the amount varies greatly. 

The subsurface soil, extending to a depth of 16 to 24 inches, consists of a 
brown mixed loam, usually more variable, however, than the surface. The 
organic-matter content averages 3 percent. 

The subsoil is quite variable, owing to the method of formation. In some 
borings a stratum of gravel is encountered, while in others sand, silt, or clay 
may predominate. 

As leveeing has not been practiced in this county, much of this bottom 
land overflows. Corn and pasture are the most satisfactory crops grown. The 
soil is fairly rich in all important plant-food elements, but on the more sandy 
areas limestone and organic manures may prove helpful, especially where the 
land is not subject to overflow. 


1916] WINNEBAGO COUNTY 63 


APPENDIX 


A study of the soil map and the tabular statements concerning crop require- 
ments, the plant-food content of the different soil types, and the actual results 
secured from definite field trials with different methods or systems of soil im- 
provement, and a careful study of the discussion of general principles and of 
the deseriptions of individual soil types, will furnish the most necessary and use- 
ful information for the practical improvement and permanent preservation of 
the productive power of every kind of soil on every farm in the county. . 

More complete information concerning the most extensive and important soil 
types in the great soil areas in all parts of Illinois is contained in Bulletin 123, 
‘‘The Fertility in Illinois Soils,’’ which contains a colored general soil-survey 
map of the entire state. 

Other publications of general interest are: 

Bulletin No. 76, ‘‘ Alfalfa on Illinois Soils’’ 

Bulletin No. 94, ‘‘ Nitrogen Bacteria and Legumes’’ 

Bulletin No. 115, ‘‘Soil Improvement for the Worn Hill Lands of Illinois’’ 

Bulletin No. 125, ‘‘Thirty Years of Crop Rotation on the Common Prairie Lands of 

Illinois’? 

Circular No. 82, ‘‘Physical Improvement of Soils’’ 

Circular No. 110, ‘‘Ground Limestone for Acid Soils’’ 

Circular No. 127, ‘‘Shall We Use Natural Rock Phosphate or Manufactured Acid Phos- 

phate for the Permanent Improvement of Illinois Soils?’’ 

Circular No. 129, ‘‘The Use of Commercial Fertilizers’’ 

Circular No. 149, ‘‘Results of Scientific Soil Treatment’’ and ‘‘ Methods and Results of 

Ten Years’ Soil Investigation in Illinois’’ 
Circular No. 165, ‘‘Shall We Use ‘Complete’ Commercial Fertilizers in the Corn Belt?’’ 
Circular No. 167, ‘‘The Illinois System of Permanent Fertility’’ 


Notre.—Information as to where to obtain limestone, phosphate, bone meal, and potas- 
sium salts, methods of application, etc., will also be found in Circulars 110 and 165. 


Sort SurvEY MEtTHops 


The detail soil survey of a county consists essentially of ascertaining, and 
indicating on a map, the location and extent of the different soil types; and, 
since the value of the survey depends upon its accuracy, every reasonable means 
is employed to make it trustworthy. To accomplish this object three things are 
essential: first, careful, well-trained men to do the work; second, an accurate 
base map upon which to show the results of the work; and, third, the means 
necessary to enable the men to place the soil-type boundaries, streams, ete., 
accurately upon the map. 

The men selected for the work must be able to keep their location exactly 
and to recognize the different soil types, with their principal variations and Jim- 
its, and they must show these upon the maps correctly. <A definite system is 
employed in checking up this work. As an illustration, one soil expert will sur- 
vey and map a strip 80 rods or 160 rods wide and any convenient length, while 
his associate will work independently on another strip adjoining this area, and, 
if the work is correctly done, the soil type boundaries must match up on the 
line between the two strips. 

An accurate base map for field use is absolutely necessary for soil mapping. 
The base maps are made on a scale of one inch to the mile. The official data 
of the original or subsequent land survey are used as a basis in the construc- 
tion of these maps, while the most trustworthy county map available is used in 


64 Som, Report No. 12 [January, 


locating temporarily the streams, roads, and railroads. Since the best of these 
published maps have some inaccuracies, the location of every road, stream, and 
railroad must be verified by the soil surveyors, and corrected if wrongly located. 
In order to make these verifications and corrections, each survey party is pro- 
vided with an odometer for measuring distances, and a plane table for deter- 
mining directions of angling roads, railroads, ete. 

Each surveyor is provided with a base map of the proper scale, which is 
carried with him in the field; and the soil-type boundaries, ditches, streams, and 
necessary corrections are placed in their proper locations upon the map while 
the mapper is on the area. Each section, or square mile, is divided into 40-acre 
plots on the map, and the surveyor must inspect every ten acres and determine 
the type or types of soil composing it. The different types are indicated on the 
map by different colors, pencils for this purpose being carried in the field. 

A small auger 40 inches long forms for each man an invaluable tool with 
which he can quickly secure samples of the different strata for inspection. An 
extension for making the auger 80 inches long is carried by each party, so that 
any peculiarity of the deeper subsoil layers may be studied. Each man carries 
a compass to aid in keeping directions. Distances along roads are measured by 
an odometer attached to the axle of the vehicle, while distances in the field off 
the roads are determined by pacing, an art in which the men become expert by 
practice. The soil boundaries can thus be located with as high a degree of ae- 
curacy as can be indicated by pencil on the seale of one inch to the mile. 


Som CHARACTERISTICS 


The unit in the soil survey is the soil type, and each type possesses more or 
less definite characteristics. The line of separation between adjoining types is 
usually distinct, but sometimes one type grades into another so gradually that 
it is very difficult to draw the line between them. In such exceptional cases, 
some slight variation in the location of soil-type boundaries is unavoidable. 

Several factors must be taken into account in establishing soil types. These 
are (1) the geological origin of the soil, whether residual, glacial, loessial, al- 
luvial, colluvial, or cumulose; (2) the topography, or lay of the land; (3) the 
native vegetation, as forest or prairie grasses; (4) the structure, or the depth 
and character of the surface, subsurface, and subsoil; (5) the physical, or me- 
chanical, composition of the different strata composing the soil, as the percent- 
ages of gravel, sand, silt, clay, and organic matter which they contain; (6) the 
texture, or porosity, granulation, friability, plasticity, ete.; (7) the color of the 
strata; (8) the natural drainage; (9) the agricultural value, based upon its 
natural productiveness; (10) the ultimate chemical co position and reaction. 

The common soil constituents are indicated in the foliowing outline: 


Organic f Comprising undecomposed and partially decayed 

matter vegetable or organic material 
Soil [ CRY 3b ete Been Oe eter arate a at eae 001 mm." and less 
constituents ; Si bi, Sect te eve eiaveret teeta icin Bees 001 mm. to .03 mm. 
Eee te Sands (.-248h oteeeachn a sie Paar eee .03 mm, to 1. mm. 
| GF aAVels |OUR st seoeteeie wae open: teres ee 1. mm. to 32 mm. 
SLONOS 2 «cath ia. trae tae ettdean Reena ae 32. mm. and over 


Further discussion of these constituents is given in Circular 82. 


125 millimeters equal 1 inch. 


1916] | WINNEBAGO COUNTY 65 


Groups or Som Types 


The following gives the different general groups of soils: 

Peats—Consisting of 35 percent or more of organic matter, sometimes mixed 
with more or less sand or silt. 

Peaty loams—15 to 35 percent of organic matter mixed with much sand. 
Some silt and a little clay may be present. 

Mucks—15 to 35 percent of partly decomposed organic matter mixed with 
much elay and silt. 

Clays—Soils with more than 25 percent of clay, usually mixed with much 
silt. 

Clay loams—Soils with from 15 to 25 percent of clay, usualiy mixed with 
much silt and some sand. | 

Silt loams—Soils with more than 50 percent of silt and less than 15 percent 
of clay, mixed with some sand. 

Loams—Soils with from 30 to 50 pereent of sand mixed with much silt and 
a little clay. 

Sandy loams—Soils with from 50 to 75 percent of sand. 

Fine sandy loams—Soils with from 50 to 75 pereent of fine sand mixed with 
much silt and little clay. 

Sands—Soils with more than 75 percent of sand. 

Gravelly loams—Soils with 25 to 50 percent of gravel with much sand and 
some silt. 

Gravels—Soils with more than 50 percent of gravel and much sand. 

Stony loams—Soils containing a considerable number of stones over one inch 
in diameter. 

Rock outecrop—-Usually ledges of rock having no direct agricultural value. 

More or less organic matter is found in all the above groups. 


SUPPLY AND LIBERATION or PLANT Foop 


The productive capacity of land in humid sections depends almost wholly 
upon the power of the soil to feed the crop; and this, in turn, depends both 
upon the stock of plant food contained in the soil and upon the rate at which 
it is liberated, or rendered soluble and available for use in plant growth. 
Protection from weeds, insects, and fungous diseases, tho exceedingly impertant, 
is not a positive but a negative factor in crop production. 


The chemical analysis of the soil gives the invoice of fertility actually pres- 
ent in the soil strata sampled and analyzed, but the rate of liberation is gov- 
erned by many factors, some of which may be controlled by the farmer, while 
others are largely beyond his control. Chief among the important controllable 
factors which influence the liberation of plant food are limestone and decaying 
organic matter, which may be added to the soil by direct application of ground 
limestone and farm manure. Organic matter may be supplied also by green- 
manure crops and erop residues, such as clover, cowpeas, straw, and corn stalks. 
The rate of decay of organic matter depends largely upon its age and origin, 
and it may be hastened by tillage. The chemical analysis shows correctly the 


66 Sor, Report No. 12 [ January, 


total organic carbon, which represents, as a rule, but little more than half the 
organic matter; so that 20,000 pounds of organic carbon in the plowed soil of 
an acre correspond to nearly 20 tons of organie matter. But this organic mat- 
ter consists largely of the old organic residues that have accumulated during the 
past centuries because they were resistant to decay, and 2 tons of clover or 
cowpeas plowed under may have greater power to liberate plant food than the 
20 tons of old, inactive organic matter. The recent history of the individual 
farm or field must be depended upon for information concerning recent addi- 
tions of active organic matter, whether in applications of farm manure, in 
legume crops, or in grass-root sods of old pastures. 

Probably no agricultural fact is more generally known by farmers and land- 
owners than that soils differ in productive power. Even tho plowed alike and 
at the same time, prepared the same way, planted the same day with the same 
kind of seed, and cultivated alike, watered by the same rains and warmed by 
the same sun, nevertheless the best acre may produce twice as large a crop as 
the poorest acre on the same farm, if not, indeed, in the same field; and the 
fact should be repeated and emphasized that with the normal rainfall of Ili- 
nois the productive power of the land depends primarily upon the stock of plant 
food contained in the soil and upon the rate at which it is liberated, just as 
the suecess of the merchant depends primarily upon his stock of goods and the 
rapidity of sales. In both eases the stock of any commodity must be increased 
or renewed whenever the supply of such commodity becomes so depleted as to 
limit the success of the business, whether on the farm or in the store. 

As the organic matter decays, certain decomposition products are formed, 
including much earbonie acid, some nitric acid, and various organic acids, and 
these have power to act upon the soil and dissolve the essential mineral plant 
foods, thus furnishing soluble phosphates, nitrates, and other salts of potassium, 
magnesium, calcium, ete., for the use of the growing crop. 

As already explained, fresh organic matter decomposes much more rapidly 
than old humus, which represents the organic residues most resistant to decay 
and which consequently has accumulated in the soil during the past centuries. 
The decay of this old humus ean be hastened both by tillage, which maintains 
a porous condition and thus permits the oxygen of the air to enter the soil more 
freely and to effect the more rapid oxidation of the organic matter, and also by 
incorporating with the old, resistant residues some fresh organic matter, such 
as farm manure, clover roots, etc., which decay rapidly and thus furnish or lib- 
erate organic matter and inorganic food for bacteria, the bacteria, under such 
favorable conditions, appearing to have power to attack and decompose the old 
humus. It is probably for this reason that peat, a very inactive and inefficient 
fertilizer when used by itself, becomes much more effective when composted with 
fresh farm manure; so that two tons of the compost! may be worth as much as 
two tons of manure, but if applied separately, the peat has little value. Bae- 
terial action is also promoted by the presence of limestone. 

The condition of the organic matter of the soil is indicated more or less 
definitely by the ratio of carbon to nitrogen. As an average, the fresh organic 

1In his book, ‘‘Fertilizers,’’ published in 1839, Cuthbert W. Johnson reported such com- 


post to have been much used in England and to be valued as highly, ‘‘ weight for weight, as 
farm-yard dung.’’ 


1916] WINNEBAGO COUNTY 67 


matter incorporated with soils contains about twenty times as much carbon as 
nitrogen, but the carbohydrates ferment and decompose much more rapidly than 
the nitrogenous matter; and the old resistant organic residues, such as are found 
in normal subsoils, commonly contain only five or six times as much carbon as 
nitrogen. Soils of normal physical composition, such as loam, clay loam, silt 
loam, and fine sandy loam, when in good productive condition, contain about 
twelve to fourteen times as much carbon as nitrogen in the surface soil; while 
in old, worn soils that are greatly in need of fresh, active, organic manures, the 
ratio is narrower, sometimes falling below ten of carbon to one of nitrogen. 
Soils of cut-over or burnt-over timber lands sometimes contain so much partially 
decayed wood or charcoal as to destroy the value of the nitrogen-carbon ratio 
for the purpose indicated. (Except in newly made alluvial soils, the ratio is 
usually narrower in the subsurface and subsoil than in the surface stratum.) 

It should be kept in mind that crops are not made out of nothing. They 
are composed of ten different elements of plant food, every one of which is 
absolutely essential for the growth and formation of every agricultural plant. 
Of these ten elements of plant food, only two (carbon and oxygen) are secured 
from the air by all agricultural plants, only one (hydrogen) from water, and 
seven from the soil. Nitrogen, one of these seven elements secured from the 
soil by all plants, may also be secured from the air by one class of plants 
(legumes), in case the amount liberated from the soil is insufficient; but even 
these plants (which include only the clovers, peas, beans, and vetches, among 
our common agricultural plants) secure from the soil alone six elements (phos- 
phorus, potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron, and sulfur), and also utilize the 
soil nitrogen so far as it becomes soluble and available during their period of 
growth. 

Plants are made of plant-food elements in just the same sense that a build- 
ing is made of wood and iron, brick, stone, and mortar. Without materials, 
nothing material can be made. . The normal temperature, sunshine, rainfall, and 
length of season in central Illinois are sufficient to produce 50 bushels of wheat 
per acre, 100 bushels of corn, 100 bushels of oats, and 4 tons of clover hay; and, 
where the land is properly drained and properly tilled, such crops would fre- 
quently be secured if the plant foods were present in sufficient amounts and 
liberated at a sufficiently rapid rate to meet the absolute needs of the crops. 


Crop REQUIREMENTS 


The accompanying table shows the requirements of wheat, corn, oats, and 
clover for the five most important plant-food elements which the soil must fur- 
nish. (Iron and sulfur are supplied normally in sufficient abundance compared 
with the amounts needed by plants, so that they are never known to limit the 
vield of general farm crops grown under normal conditions. ) 

To be sure, these are large yields, but shall we try to make possible the 
production of yields only half or a quarter as large as these, or shall. we set as 
our ideal this higher mark, and then approach it as nearly as possible with 
profit? Among the four crops, corn is the largest, with a total yield of more 
than six tons per acre; and yet the 100-bushel crop of corn is often produced 
on rich pieces of land in good seasons. In very practical and profitable systems 


68 Som. Report No. 12 [ January, 


TABLE A.—PLANT F'00D IN WHEAT, CORN, OATS, AND CLOVER 


Produce Nitro- Phos- Potas- | Magne- Cal- 
Kind Amount gen phorus sium sium cium 
lbs lbs lbs. lbs lbs 
Wheat, grain....... 50 bu. (Gl 12 13 4 i 
Wheat: strawin.-. a 21% tons 25 4 45 4 10 
Qorn;:eTains..anee o 100 bu. 100 igs 19 7 1 
Corn =stover sa) 3 tons 48 6 52 10 21 
Corn stolssn (ss et Y% ton 2 2 
Oats SeTainer cect oe 100 bu. 66 amt 16 4 a 
Oats straw. 21% tons 31 5 52 7 15 
Clover seed......... 4 bu. 7 2 ae i 1 
Clover havens. mone 4 tons 160 20 120 31 117 
Total anvgrainsand seed 5-0 ser acer ae 244% 42 51 16 4 
Totalyin> Louk Cropsadn nae secant eee 510? 77 322 68 168 


*These amounts include the nitrogen contained in the clover seed or hay, which, how- 
ever, may be secured from the air. 


of farming, the Illinois Experiment Station has produced, as an average of the 
six years 1905 to 1910, a yield of 87 bushels of corn per acre in grain farming 
(with limestone and phosphorus applied, and with crop residues and legume 
crops turned under), and 90 bushels per acre in live-stock farming (with lime- 
stone, phosphorus, and manure). 

The importance of maintaining a rich surface soil cannot be too strongly 
emphasized. This is well illustrated by data from the Rothamsted Experiment 
Station, the oldest in the world. On Broadbalk field, where wheat has been 
grown since 1844, the average yields for the ten years 1892 to 1901 were 12.3 
bushels per acre on Plot 3 (unfertilized) and 31.8 bushels on Plot 7 (well ferti- 
lized), but the amounts of both nitrogen and phosphorus in the subsoil (9 to 27 
inches) were distinctly greater in Plot 3 than in Plot 7, thus showing that the 
higher yields from Plot 7 were due to the fact that the plowed soil had been 
enriched. In 1893 Plot 7 contained per acre in the surface soil (0 to 9 inches) 
about 600 pounds more nitrogen and 900 pounds more phosphorus than Plot 3. 
Even a rich subsoil has little value if it lies beneath a worn-out surface. 


METHODS oF LIBERATING PLANT F'oop 


Limestone and decaying organic matter are the principal materials which 
the farmer can utilize most profitably to bring about the liberation of plant 
food. The limestone corrects the acidity of the soil and thus encourages the 
development not only of the nitrogen-gathering bacteria which live in the nodules 
on the roots of clover, cowpeas, and other legumes, but also the nitrifying 
bacteria, which have power to transform the insoluble and unavailable organie 
nitrogen into soluble and available nitrate nitrogen. At the same time, the 
products of this decomposition have power to dissolve the minerals contained 
in the soil, such as potassium and magnesium, and also to dissolve the insoluble 
phosphate and limestone which may be applied in low-priced forms. 

Tillage, or cultivation, also hastens the liberation of plant food by permit- 
ting the air to enter the soil and burn out the organic matter; but it should 
never be forgotten that tillage is wholly destructive, that it adds nothing what- 


1916] WINNEBAGO COUNTY 69 


ever to the soil, but always leaves it poorer. Tillage should be practiced so 
far as is necessary to prepare a suitable seed bed for root development and 
also for the purpose of killing weeds, but more than this is unnecessary and 
unprofitable in seasons of normal rainfall; and it is much better actually to 
enrich the soil by proper applications or additions, including limestone and 
organic matter (both of which have power to improve the physical condition 
as well as to liberate plant food) than merely to hasten soil depletion by means 
of excessive cultivation. 


PERMANENT Sor IMPROVEMENT 


The best and most profitable methods for the permanent improvement of 
the common soils of Illinois are as follows: 

(1) If the soil is acid, apply at least two tons per acre of ground lime- 
stone, preferably at times magnesian limestone (CaCO,MegCO,), which con- 
tains both calcium and magnesium and has slightly greater power to correct 
soil acidity, ton for ton, than the ordinary calcium limestone (CaCO,); and 
continue to apply about two tons per acre of ground limestone every four or 
five years. On strongly acid soils, or on land being prepared for alfalfa, five 
tons per acre of ground limestone may well be used for the first application. 

(2) Adopt a good rotation of crops, including a liberal use of legumes, and 
increase the organic matter of the soil either by plowing under the legume crops 
and other crop residues (straw and corn stalks), or by using for feed and bed- 
ding practically all the crops raised and returning the manure to the land with 
the least possible loss. No one can say in advance what will prove to be the 
best rotation of crops, because of variation in farms and farmers, and in prices 
for produce, but the following are suggested to serve as models or outlines: 


First year, corn. 

Second year, corn. 

Third year, wheat or oats (with clover or clover and grass). 

Fourth year, clover or clover and grass. 

Fifth year, wheat and clover or grass and clover. 

Sixth year, clover or clover and grass. 

Of course there should be as many fields as there are years in the rotation. 
In grain farming, with small grain grown the third and fifth years, most of the 
coarse products should be returned to the soil, and the clover may be clipped 
and left on the land (only the clover seed being sold the fourth and sixth years) ; 
or, in live-stock farming, the field may be used three years for timothy and 
clover pasture and meadow if desired. The system may be reduced to a five- 
year rotation by cutting out either the second or the sixth year, and to a four- 
year system by omitting the fifth and sixth years. 

With two years of corn, followed by oats with clover-seeding the third year, 
and by clover the fourth year, all produce can be used for feed and bedding if 
other land is available for permanent pasture. Alfalfa may be grown on a fifth 
field for four or eight years, which is to be alternated with one of the four; or 
the alfalfa may be moved every five years, and thus rotated over all five fields 
every twenty-five years. 


Other four-year rotations more suitable for grain farming are: 


Wheat (and clover), corn, oats, and clover; or corn (and clover), cowpeas, wheat, and 
clover. (Alfalfa may be grown on a fifth field and rotated every five years, the 
hay being sold.) 


70 Som Report No. 12 [January, 


Good three-year rotations are: 

Corn, oats, and clover; corn, wheat, and clover; or wheat (and clover), corn (and 
clover), and cowpeas, in which two cover crops and one regular crop of legumes 
are grown in three years. 

A five-year rotation of (1) corn (and clover), (2) cowpeas, (38) wheat, 

(4) clover, and (5) wheat (and clover) allows legumes to be seeded four times. 
Alfalfa may be grown on a sixth field for five or six years in the combination. 
rotation, alternating between two fields every five years, or rotating over all the 
fields if moved every six years. 


To avoid clover sickness it may sometimes be necessary to substitute sweet 
clover or alsike for red clover in about every third rotation, and at the same 
time to discontinue its use in the cover-crop mixture. If the corn crop is not 
too rank, cowpeas or soybeans may also be used as a cover crop (seeded at the 
last cultivation) in the southern part of the state, and, if necessary to avoid 
disease, these may well alternate in successive rotations. _ 


For easy figuring it may well be kept in mind that the following amounts 
of nitrogen are required for the produce named: 

1 bushel of oats (grain and straw) requires 1 pound of nitrogen. 

1 bushel of corn (grain and stalks) requires 1144 pounds of nitrogen. 

1 bushel of wheat (grain and straw) requires 2 pounds of nitrogen. 

1 ton of timothy requires 24 pounds of nitrogen. 

1 ton of clover contains 40 pounds of nitrogen. 

1 ton of cowpeas contains 43 pounds of nitrogen. 

1 ton of average manure contains 10 pounds of nitrogen. 

The roots of clover contain about half as much nitrogen as the tops, and 
the roots of cowpeas contain about one-tenth as much as the tops. 

Soils of moderate productive power will furnish as much nitrogen to clover 
(and two or three times as much to cowpeas) as will be left in the roots and 
stubble. In grain crops, such as wheat, corn, and oats, about two-thirds of the 
nitrogen is contained in the grain and one-third in the straw or stalks. (See 
also discussion of ‘‘The Potassium Problem,’’ on pages following.) 3 

(3) On all lands deficient in phosphorus (except on those susceptible to 
serious erosion by surface washing or gullying) apply that element in consid- 
erably iarger amounts than are required to meet the actual needs of the crops 
desired to be produced. The abundant information thus far secured shows posi- 
tively that fine-ground natural rock phosphate can be used successfully and very 
profitably, and clearly indicates that this material will be the most economical 
form of phosphorus to use in all ordinary systems of permanent, profitable soil 
improvement. The first application may well be one ton per acre, and subse- 
quently about one-half ton per acre every four or five years should be applied, 
at least until the phosphorus content of the plowed soil reaches 2,000 pounds per 
acre, which may require a total application of from three to five or six tons per 
acre of raw phosphate containing 1214 percent of the element phosphorus. 

Steamed bone meal and even acid phosphate may be used in emergencies, 
but it should always be kept in mind that phosphorus delivered in Illinois costs 
about 3 cents a pound in raw phosphate (direct from the mine in carload lots), 
but 10 cents a pound in steamed bone meal, and about 12 cents a pound in acid 
phosphate, both of which cost too much per ton to permit their common purchase 
by farmers in carload lots, which is not the case with limestone or raw phos- 
phate. 


1916] WINNEBAGO COUNTY 71 


Phosphorus once applied to the soil remains in it until removed in crops, 
unless carried away mechanically by soil erosion. (The loss by leaching is only 
about 114 pounds per acre per annum, so that more than 150 years would be 
required to leach away the phosphorus applied in one ton of raw phosphate.) 

The phosphate and limestone may be applied at any time during the rota- 
tion, but a good method is to apply the limestone after plowing and work it into 
the surface soil in preparing the seed bed for wheat, oats, rye, or barley, where 
clover is to be seeded; while phosphate is best plowed under with farm manure, 
clover, or other green manures, which serve to liberate the phosphorus. 

(4) Until the supply of decaying organic matter has been made adequate, 
on the poorer types of upland timber and gray prairie soils some temporary 
benefit may be derived from the use of a soluble salt or a mixture of salts, such 
as kainit, which contains both potassium and magnesium in soluble form and 
also some common salt (sodium chlorid). About 600 pounds per acre of kainit 
applied and turned under with the raw phosphate will help to dissolve the phos- 
phorus as well as to furnish available potassium and magnesium, and for a few 
years such use of kainit may be profitable on lands deficient in organic matter, 
but the evidence thus far secured indicates that its use is not absolutely necessary 
and that it will not be profitable after adequate provision is made for supplying 
decaying organic matter, since this will necessitate returning to the soil the 
potassium contained in the crop residues from grain farming or the manure 
produced in live-stock farming, and will also provide for the liberating of potas- 
sium from the soil. (Where hay or straw is sold, manure should be bought.) 

On soils which are subject to surface washing, including especially the 
yellow silt loam of the upland timber area, and to some extent the yellow-gray 
silt loam and other more rolling areas, the supply of minerals in the subsurface 
and subsoil (which gradually renew the surface soil) tends to provide for a 
low-grade system of permanent agriculture if some use is made of legume plants, 
as in long rotations with much pasture, because both the minerals and nitrogen 
are thus provided in some amount almost permanently; but where such lands 
are farmed under such a system, not more than two or three grain crops should 
be grown during a period of ten or twelve years, the land being kept in pasture 
most of the time; and where the soil is acid a liberal use of limestone, as top- 
dressings if necessary, and occasional reseeding with clovers will benefit both the 
pasture and indirectly the grain crops. 


ADVANTAGE OF Crop ROTATION AND PERMANENT SYSTEMS 


It should be noted that clover is not likely to be well infected with the 
elover bacteria during the first rotation on a given farm or field where it has 
not been grown before within recent years; but even a partial stand of clover 
the first time will probably provide a thousand times as many bacteria for the 
next clover crop as one could afford to apply in artificial inoculation, for a single 
root-tubercle may contain a million bacteria developed from one during the sea- 
son’s growth. | 

This is only one of several advantages of the second course of the rotation 
over the first course. Thus the mere practice of crop rotation is an advantage, 
especially in helping to rid the land of insects and foul grass and weeds. The 
clover crop is an advantage to subsequent crops because of its deep-rooting char- 


72 Sor Report No. 12 [ January, 


acteristic. The larger applications of organic manures (made possible by the 
larger crops) are a great advantage; and in systems of permanent soil: improve- 
ment, such as are here advised and illustrated, more limestone and more phos- 
phorus are provided than are needed for the meager or moderate crops pro- 
duced during the first rotation, and consequently the crops in the second rota- 
tion have the advantage of such accumulated residues (well incorporated with 
the plowed soil) in addition to the regular applications made during the second 
rotation. 

This means that these systems tend positively toward the making of richer 
lands. The ultimate analyses recorded in the tables give the absolute invoice 
of these Llinois soils. They show that most of them are positively deficient only 
in limestone, phosphorus, and nitrogenous organic matter; and the accumulated 
information from careful and long-continued investigations in different parts of 
the United States clearly establishes the fact that in general farming these essen- 
tials can be supplied with greatest economy and profit by the use of ground nat- 
ural limestone, very finely ground natural rock phosphate, and legume erops to 
be plowed under directly or in farm manure. On normal soils no other applica- 
tions are absolutely necessary, but, as already explained, the addition of some 
soluble salt in the beginning of a system of improvement on some of these soils 
produces temporary benefit, and if some inexpensive salt, such as kainit, is used, 
it may produce sufficient increase to more than pay the added cost. 


Tur Potassium PROBLEM 


As reported in Illinois Bulletin 123, where wheat has been grown every year 
for more than half a century at Rothamsted, England, exactly the same increase 
was produced (5.6 bushels per acre), as an average of the first 24 years, whether 
potassium, magnesium, or sodium was applied, the rate of application per annum 
being 200 pounds of potassium sulfate and molecular equivalents of magnesium 
sulfate and sodium sulfate. As an average of 60 years (1852 to 1911), the yield 
of wheat was 12.7 bushels on untreated land and 23.3 bushels where 86 pounds 
of nitrogen and 29 pounds of phosphorus per acre per annum were applied. 
As further additions, 85 pounds of potassium raised the yield to 31.3 bushels; 
52 pounds of magnesium raised it to 29.2 bushels; and 50 pounds of sodium raised 
it to 29.5 bushels. Where potassium was applied, the wheat crop removed an- 
nually an average of 40 pounds of that element in the grain and straw, or three 
times as much as would be removed in the grain only for such crops as are 
suggested in Table A. The Rothamsted soil contained an abundance of lime- 
stone, but no organic matter was provided, except the little in the stubble and 
roots of the wheat plants. 

On another field at Rothamsted the average yield of barley for 60 years 
(1852 to 1911) was 14.2 bushels on untreated land, 38.1 bushels where 43 pounds 
of nitrogen and 29 pounds of phosphorus were applied per acre per annum; 
while the further addition of 85 pounds of potassium, 19 pounds of magnesium, 
and 14 pounds of sodium (all in sulfates) raised the average yield to 41.5 
bushels. Where only 70 pounds of sodium were applied in addition to the 
nitrogen and phosphorus, the average was 43.0 bushels. Thus, as an average 
of 60 years, the use of sodium produced 1.8 bushels less wheat and 1.5 bushels 


1916] WINNEBAGO COUNTY 73 


‘more barley than the use of potassium, with both grain and straw removed and 
no organic manures returned. 

In recent years the effect of potassium is becoming much more marked than 
that of sodium or magnesium, on the wheat crop; but this must be expected to 
occur in time where no potassium is returned in straw or manure, and no pro- 
vision made for liberating potassium from the supply still remaining in the soil. 
If the wheat straw, which contains more than three-fourths of the potassium 
removed in the wheat crop (see Table A), were returned to the soil, the neces- 
sity of purchasing potassium in a good system of farming on such land would 
be at least very remote, for the supply would be adequately maintained by 
the actual amount returned in the straw, together with the additional amount 
which would be liberated from the soil by the action of decomposition products. 

While about half the potassium, nitrogen, and organic matter, and about 
one-fourth the phosphorus contained in manure is lost by three or four months’ 
exposure in the ordinary pile in the barn yard, there is practically no loss 
if plenty of absorbent bedding is used on cement floors, and if the manure is 
hauled to the field and spread within a day or two after it is produced. Again, 
while in average live-stock farming the animals destroy two-thirds of the or- 
ganic matter and retain one-fourth of the nitrogen and phosphorus from the 
food they consume, they retain less than one-tenth of the potassium; so that the 
actual loss of potassium in the products sold from the farm, either in grain 
farming or in live-stock farming, is wholly negligible on land containing 25,000 
pounds or more of potassium in the surface 624 inches. 

The removal of one inch of soil per century by surface washing (which is 
likely to occur wherever there is satisfactory surface drainage and frequent cul- 
tivation) will permanently maintain the potassium in grain farming by re- 
newal from the subsoil, provided one-third of the potassium is removed by crop- 
ping before the soil is carried away. 

From all these facts it will be seen that the potassium problem is not one 
of addition but of liberation; and the Rothamsted records show that for many 
years other soluble salts have practically the same power as potassium to increase 
crop yields in the absence of sufficient decaying organic matter. Whether this 
action relates to supplying or liberating potassium for its own sake, or to the 
power of the soluble salt to increase the availability of phosphorus or other ele- 

ments, is not known, but where much potassium is removed, as in the entire crops 
at Rothamsted, with no return of organic residues, probably the soluble salt 
functions in both ways. 

As an average of 112 separate tests conducted in 1907, 1908, 1909, and 1910 
on the Fairfield experiment field, an application of 200 pounds of potassium 
sulfate, containing 85 pounds of potassium and costing $5.10, increased the yield 
of corn by 9.3 bushels per acre; while 600 pounds of kainit, containing only 60 
pounds of potassium and costing $4, gave an increase of 10.7 bushels. Thus, at 
40 cents a bushel for corn, the kainit paid for itself; but these results, like those 
at Rothamsted, were secured where no adequate provision had been made for 
decaying organic matter. 

Additional experiments at Fairfield included an equally complete test with 
potassium sulfate and kainit on land to which 8 tons per acre of farm manure 


74 Sor. Report No. 12 [ January, 


were applied. As an average of 112 tests with each material, the 200 pounds 
of potassium sulfate increased the yield of corn by 1.7 bushels, while the 600 
pounds of kainit also gave an increase of 1.7 bushels. Thus, where organic 
manure was supplied, very little effect was produced by the addition of either: 
potassium sulfate or kainit; in part perhaps because the potassium removed in 
the crops is mostly returned in the manure if properly cared for, and perhaps 
in larger part because the decaying organic matter helps to liberate and hold 
in solution other plant-food elements, especially phosphorus. 

In laboratory experiments at the Illinois Experiment Station, it has been 
shown by chemical analysis that potassium salts and most other soluble salts 
increase the solubility of the phosphorus in soil and in rock phosphate; also 
that the addition of glucose with rock phosphate in pot-culture experiments 
increases the availability of the phosphorus, as measured by plant growth, altho 
the glucose consists only of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, and thus contains 
no plant food of value. 

If we remember that, as an average, live stock destroy two-thirds of the or- 
ganic matter of the food they consume, it it easy to determine from Table A that 
more organic matter will be supplied in a proper grain system than in a strictly 
live-stock system; and the evidence thus far secured from older experiments at 
the University and at other places in the state indicates that if the corn stalks, 
straw, clover, etc., are incorporated with the soil as soon as practicable after they 
are produced (which can usually be done in the late fall or early spring), there 
is little or no difficulty in securing sufficient decomposition in our humid climate 
to avoid serious interference with the capillary movement of the soil moisture, 
a common danger from plowing under too much coarse manure of any kind in 
the late spring of a dry year. 

If, however, the entire produce of the land is sold from the farm, as in hay 
farming or when both grain and straw are sold, of course the draft on potas- 
sium will then be so great that in time it must be renewed by some sort of appli- 
eation. As a rule, farmers following this practice ought to secure manure from 
town, since they furnish the bulk of the material out of which manure is pro- 


dueed. 
CALCIUM AND MAGNESIUM 


When measured by the actual crop requirements for plant food, magnesium 
and calcium are more limited in some Illinois soils than potassium. But with 
these elements we must also consider the loss by leaching. As an average of 90 
analyses’ of Illinois well-waters drawn chiefly from glacial sands, gravels, or till, 
3 million pounds of water (about the average annual drainage per acre for 
Illinois) contained 11 pounds of potassium, 130 of magnesium, and 330 of cal- 
cium. These figures are very significant, and it may be stated that if the plowed 
soil is well supplied with the carbonates of magnesium and calcium, then a very 
considerable proportion of these amounts will be leached from that stratum. 
Thus the loss of calcium from the plowed soil of an acre at Rothamsted, England, 
where the soil contains plenty of limestone, has averaged more than 300 pounds 
a year as determined by analyzing the soil in 1865 and again in 1905. Prac- 
tically the same amount of calcium was found, by analyses, in the Rothamsted 
drainage waters. 

*Reported by Doctor Bartow and associates, of the Illinois State Water Survey. 


1916] _ WINNEBAGO COUNTY 75 


Common limestone, which is calcium carbonate (CaCO,), contains, when 
pure, 40 percent of calcium, so that 800 pounds of limestone are equivalent to 
320 pounds of calcium. Where 10 tons per acre of ground limestone were 
appled at Edgewood, Illinois, the average annual loss during the next ten years 
amounted to 790 pounds per acre. The definite data from careful investigations 
seem to be ample to justify the conclusion that where limestone is needed at 
least 2 tons per acre should be applied every 4 or 5 years. 

It is of interest to note that thirty ercps of clover of four tons each would 
require 3,510 pounds of calcium, while the most common prairie land of southern 
Illinois contains only 3,420 pounds of total calcium in the plowed soil of an 
acre. (See Soil Report No. 1.) Thus limestone has a positive value on some 
soils for the plant food which it supplies, in addition to its value in correcting 
soil acidity and in improving the physical condition of the soil. Ordinary lime- 
stone (abundant in the southern and western parts of the state) contains nearly 
800 pounds of calcium per ton; while a good grade of dolomitic limestone (the 
more common limestone of northern Illinois) contains about 400 pounds of eal- 
cium and 300 pounds of magnesium per ton. Both of these elements are fur- 
nished in readily available form in ground dolomits:* limestone. 


PHysIcAL IMPROVEMENT OF SOILS 


In the management of most soil types, one very important thing, aside from 
proper fertilization, tillage, and drainage, is to keep the soil in good physical 
condition, or good tilth. The constituent most important for this purpose is 
organic matter. Not only does it impart good tilth to the soil, but it prevents 
much loss by washing on rolling land, warms the soil by absorption of heat, re- 
tains moisture during drouth and prevents the soil from running together badly ; 
and, as it decays, it furnishes nitrogen for the crop and aids in the liberation of 
mineral plant food. This constituent must be supplied to the soil in every prac- 
tical way, so that the amount may be maintained or even increased. It is being 
broken down during a large part of the year, and the nitrates produced are used 
for plant growth. This decomposition is necessary, but it is also quite necessary 
that the supply be maintained. 

The physical effect of organic matter in the soil is to produce a granulation, 
or mellowness, very favorable for tillage and the development of plant roots. If 
continuous cropping takes place, accompanied with the removal or the destruc- 
tion of the corn stalks and straw, the amount of organic matter is gradually 
diminished and a condition of poor tilth will ultimately follow. In many cases 
this already limits the crop yields. The remedy is to increase the organic-matter 
content by plowing under manure or crop residues, such as corn stalks, straw, 
and clover. Selling these products from the farm, burning them, or feeding 
them and not returning the manure, or allowing a very large part of the manure 
to be lost before it is returned to the land, all represent bad practice. — 

One of the chief sources of loss of organic matter in the corn belt is the 
practice of burning the corn stalks. Could the farmers be made to realize how 
great a loss this entails, they would certainly discontinue the practice. Probably 
no form of organic matter acts more beneficially in producing good tilth than 
corn stalks. It is true that they decay rather slowly, but it is also true that their 


76 Sor Report No. 12 [ January, 


durability in the soil after partial decomposition is exactly what is needed in 
the maintenance of an adequate supply of humus. 

The nitrogen in a ton of corn stalks is 114 times that in a ton of manure, and 
a ton of dry corn stalks incorporated with the soil will ultimately furnish as 
much humus as 4 tons of average farm manure; but when burned, both the 
humus-making material and the nitrogen which these stalks contain are de- 
stroyed and lost to the soil. 

The objection is often raised that when stalks are plowed under they inter- 
_ fere very seriously in the cultivation of corn, and thus indirectly destroy a great 
deal of corn. If corn stalks are well cut up and then turned under to a depth 
of 514 to 6 inches when the ground is plowed in the spring, very little trouble 
will result. 

Where corn follows corn, the stalks, if not needed for feeding purposes, 
should be thoroly cut up with a sharp disk or stalk cutter and turned under. 
Likewise, the straw should be returned to the land in some practical way, either 
directly or as manure. Clover should be one of the crops grown in the rotation, 
and it should be plowed under directly or as manure instead of being sold as hay, 
except when manure can be brought back. 

It must be remembered, however, that in the feeding of hay, or straw, or 
corn stalks, a great destruction of organic matter takes place, so that even if the 
fresh manure were returned to the soil, there would still be a loss of 50 to 70 
pereent owing to the destruction of organic matter by the animal. If manure is 
allowed to lie in the farmyard for a few weeks or months, there is an additional 
loss which amounts to from one-third to two-thirds of the manure recovered 
from the animal. This is well shown by the results of an experiment conducted 
by the Maryland Experiment Station, where 80 tons of manure were allowed to 
lie for a year in the farmyard and at the end of that time but 27 tons remained, 
entailing a loss of about 66 percent of the manure. Most of this loss occurs 
within the first three or four months, when fermentation, or ‘‘heating,’’ 1s most 
active. Two tons of manure were exposed from. April 29 to August 29, by the 
Canadian Experiment Station at Ottawa. During these four months the organic 
matter was reduced from 1,988 pounds to 655 pounds. To obtain the greatest 
value from the manure, it should be applied to the soil as soon as possible after 
it is produced. 

It is a common practice in the corn belt to-pasture the corn stalks during 
the winter and often rather late in the spring. after the frost is out of the 
ground. This tramping of stock sometimes puts the soil in bad condition for 
working. It becomes partially puddled and will be cloddy as a result. If 
tramped too late in the spring, the natural agencies of freezing and’ thawing, 
and wetting and drying, with the aid of ordinary tillage, fail to produce good 
tilth before the crop is to be planted. Whether the crop is corn or oats, it neces- 
sarily suffers, and if the season is dry, much damage may result. If the field is 
put in corn, a poor stand is likely to follow, and if put in oats, a compact soil is 
formed which is unfavorable for their growth. Sometimes the soil is worked. 
when too wet. This also produces a partial puddling which is unfavorable to 
physical, chemical, and biological processes. The bad effect will be greater if 
cropping has reduced the organic matter below the amount necessary to maintain 
good tilth. 


~ PUBLICATIONS RELATING TO ILLINOIS SOIL INVESTIGATIONS ~ 
No. BULLETINS : 


76 “Alfalfa on Illinois Soil, 1902 (5th edition, 1913). 
*86 Climate of Illinois, 1903. 
*88 Soil Treatment for Wheat in Rotation, with Special Reference to Southern Illinois, 1903. 


Po #98 Soil Treatment for Peaty Swamp Lands, Including Reference to Sand and © Alkali? ? 


Soils, 1904. (See No. 157). 
94 Nitrogen Bacteria and Legumes, 1904 (4th edition, 1912). 
-*99 Soil. Treatment for the Lower Illinois Glaciation, 1905. 
*115 Soil Improvement for the Worn Hill Lands of Tilinois, 1907. 
123 The Fertility in Illinois Soils, 1908 (2d edition, 1911). 


#195 Thirty Years of Crop Rotations on the Common Prairie Soil of Tilinois, 1908. 


_ 145 Quantitative Relationships of Carbon, Phosphorus, and Nitrogen in ‘Soils, 1910 (2d 


edition, 1912.) 


“#187 Peaty Swamp Lands; Sand and er saris Soils, 1912. 


_ 177 Radium as a Fertilizer, 1915. 
bak, Soil Moisture and Tillage for Corn, 1915. 


CiRcULARs 


"64 Tivestipations of Illinois Soils, 1903. 
*68 Methods of Maintaining the Produetive Capacity of Illinois Soils, 1903 (2d edition, 1905). 
*70 Infected Alfalfa Soil, 1903. 
‘*72 Present Status of Soil Investigation, 1903 (2nd edition, 1904). 
82 The Physical Improvement of Soils, 1904 (3d edition, 1912). 
. 86 Science and Sense in the Inoculation of Legumes, 1905 (2d edition, 1913). 


#87 Factors in Crop Production, with Special Reference to Permanent Agriculture in Illinois, 


1905. 


, - *96 Soil Improvement for the Illinois Corn Belt, 1905 (2d edition, 1906). 
~,.. *97 Soil. Treatment for Wheat on the Poorer Lands of the Illinois Wheat Belt, 1905, 
_ *99 The ‘‘Gist’’ of Four Years’ Soil Investigations in the Illinois Wheat Belt, 1905, 


; ~. “100 The ‘‘Gist’’ of Four Years’ Soil, Investigations in the Il]inois Corn Belt, 1905. 


105 The Duty of Chemistry to Agriculture, 1906 (2d edition, 1913). 


*108 Illinois Soils in Relation to Systems of Permanent Agriculture, 1907. 


109 Improvement of Upland Timber Soils of Illinois, 1907. 
110 Ground Limestone for Acid Soils, 1907 (3d edition, 1912). 


-*116 Phosphorus and Humus in Relation to Mlinois Soils, 1908. 


*119 Washing of Soils and Methods of Prevention, 1908 (2d edition, 1912). 


" #122 Seven Years’ Soil Investigation in Southern Illinois, 1908.. 


123 The Status of Soil Fertility Investigations, 1908. 

124 Chemical Principles of Soil Fertility, 1908. 

127 Shall We Use Natural Rock Phosphate or Manufactured Acid Phosphate for the Per- 
manent Improvement of Illinois Soils? 1909 (3d edition, 1912). 


#129 The Use of Commercial Fertilizers, 1909. 


130 A Phosphate Problem for Illinois Land Owners, 1909. 


/ #141. Crop. Rotation for Illinois Soils, 1910 (2d edition, 1913). 


142 European Practice and American Theory Concerning Soil Fertility, 1910. 


445 The Story of a King and Queen, 1910. 
“149: Results of Scientific Soil Treatment; and Methods and Results of Ten Years’ Soil 


Investigation in Illinois, 1911. 


ce 350 Collecting and Testing Soil Samples, 1911 (2d edition, 1912). 
--. 155 Plant Food in Relation to Soil Fertility, 1912. 


*157 Soil Fertility: Illinois Conditions, Needs, and Future Prccnocts, 1912. 


~~ 


_ 165 ‘Shall we Use ‘‘Complete’’ Commercial Fertilizers in the Corn Belt? 1912 (4th edition, 


1913.) 
167 The Illinois System of Permanent Fertility, 1913, 
168 Bread from Stones, 1913. 


AST How PO ‘to Treat "Tilinois Soils, 1915. 


: ae ae | _Sorn Rurorrs 7 
-1-Clay County Soils, 1911. : 7 McDonough County Soils, 1913. 


- 2 Moultrie County Soils, 1911. * -.8 Bond County Soils, 1913. 
3 Hardin: County Soils; 1912") 2 Sao s 9 Lake County Soils, 1915. 
4 Sangamon County Soils, 1912. .- : » 10 McLean County Soils, 1915. 
- 8 La Salle County Soils, 1913. He 11 Pike County Soils, 1915. 
_. 6 Knox County Soils, 1913. Bee 12 Winnebago County Soils, 1916. 


“Out of print. 


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